THE FLATS – No. 18 Georgia Tech volleyball (7-1) will compete in an ACC-SEC Challenge hosted partially by NC State this weekend, first squaring off against Arkansas in a neutral match on Thursday at 3 p.m. in Raleigh, N.C. before returning home for Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate with Georgia on Saturday at 7 p.m. in O’Keefe Gymnasium.
Coverage
- Thursday, Sept. 16 | No. 18 Georgia Tech vs. Arkansas | 3 p.m. | Live Stats
- Saturday, Sept. 18 | Georgia at No. 18 Georgia Tech | 7 p.m. | ACC Network Extra | Watch | Live Stats
Home Tickets
Adult Season – $55
Youth (ages 3-18)/Senior (55+) Season – $30
Adult Single Game – $6
Youth (ages 3-18)/Senior (55+) Single Game – $4
Group Single Game (10+) – $2
Season tickets and single game tickets are now available. Secure your tickets online HERE. If you need assistance, the Georgia Tech Ticket Office may be reached by phone at 888.TECH.TIX, The Georgia Tech Ticket Office is open Monday – Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Full capacity is once again allowed inside O’Keefe Gymnasium, and seating is general admission. Students with a Buzz Card will be permitted free of charge.
Georgia Tech’s match against Arkansas at NC State will not be ticketed and remain open to the public. Fans must wear masks inside at all times unless actively eating or drinking.
Parking
Fans may park free of charge in the McCamish, East O’Keefe and Family Housing lots.
Storylines
- The Jackets most recently landed in 18th in the latest AVCA Top 25 poll, three spots higher than last week’s slot. Since appearing in the Top 25 at No. 12 on Sept. 30, 2020, Georgia Tech has been listed in 26 straight top 25 polls to date.
- Going beyond 2019’s NIVC title, Tech has won 39 of its last 46 matches.
- The Yellow Jackets have won 26 of their last 28 matches on The Flats in O’Keefe Gymnasium.
- Georgia Tech currently sits at 7-1 after sweeping its home tournament, the Georgia Tech Classic, downing the likes of Mississippi State (sweep), Indiana (3-1) and Oklahoma (3-1). Senior right-side hitter Mariana Brambilla was named tournament MVP while junior outside hitter Julia Bergmann and senior setter Matti McKissock joined her on the all-tournament team on the way to the Georgia Tech Classic title.
- Prior to splitting the Long Beach State Tournament with Long Beach State (W, 3-1) and UCLA (L, 3-1), the Jackets opened the season with a 3-0 start. The undefeated start resulted in a UCF Challenge crown, including a season-opening win over No. 20 Penn State (previously No. 12). The win marked the highest ranked victory for Tech since the 2003 NCAA tournament, the first ranked triumph for the program since 2017 and the first win over the Nittany Lions in Georgia Tech history. For Penn State, the defeat marked its first nonconference loss outside top 10 since 2016.
- Georgia Tech currently boasts three of the best statistical marks in the nation. The Jackets lead the conference and are 10th in the country in hitting percentage (.285). Tech is also second in the ACC and 27th in the NCAA in assists per set (12.81). The Yellow Jackets are currently second in the league and 29th in the nation in kills per set (13.78) as well.
- Bergmann has racked up awards on a national scale this season being named AVCA Player of the Week, ACC Player of the Week and UCF Challenge MVP. Her AVCA honor as the best player in the nation for the week marked the first time a Yellow Jacket has received the award since Kele Eveland on Sep. 15, 2003.
- Bergmann’s numbers back up her accolades as she’s among the nation’s best in multiple categories. To date, the veteran has led the Jacket attack with 134 kills (4.47 per set), 85 digs, 12 service aces and 17 total blocks (10 solo, seven assisted).
- On a national scale, Bergmann continues to boast some of the top marks in the country. The veteran is currently 26th in the nation in kills per set (4.47), 14th in points per set (5.32), 23rd in points (159.5), and 28th in total kills (134).
- Amongst the conference, those marks put her first in points per set, second in kills per set, fourth in points and fourth in total kills. She also leads the ACC in attacks per set (10.63) and is second in total attacks (319) this season.
- Freshman outside hitter Bianca Bertolino has staked her claim as one of the top freshmen in the conference this season as she won ACC Freshman of the Week in back-to-back weeks for her first two weeks of her collegiate career. The Argentinian also was selected to the UCF Challenge all-tournament team after week one.
- In individual matches, Bertolino’s 21 kills against Long Beach State are tied for the fifth most in a single match amongst the league this season. In that same match, her .541 attack percentage is the seventh highest mark in the ACC with more kills than any other listing in the top 10.
- Senior setter Matti McKissock continues to climb in the Georgia Tech record books as she’s currently eighth in career assists in program history with 3,108 to date. This season, McKissock is currently third in the conference and 18th in the country with 10.90 assists per set.
Series History
- Georgia Tech is currently an undefeated 6-0 in the all-time series with Arkansas. The Jackets have won three home matches and three neutral matches dating back to 1996, holding an 18-3 advantage in total sets. Tech most recently swept the Razorbacks in a neutral match in Athens, Ga.
- Georgia leads Georgia Tech 24-17 in the all-time series. The Jackets have taken three of the last five contests, including a five-set victory in the last matchup in O’Keefe Gymnasium in 2018. The Yellow Jackets have also claimed 17 of the last 21 contests dating back to 1999.
Scouting Arkansas
- The Razorbacks have gotten off to an 8-1 start this season, only falling in five sets to Little Rock. Arkansas comes into the matchup riding a six-game win streak, including wins over Tulsa and Utah State.
- Arkansas currently leads the SEC in six different categories – aces per set (1.83), assists per set (13.11), assists (459), kills (500), aces (64) and attacks (1,203). The Razorbacks are also top three in the ACC in three categories – kills per set (14.29), digs (492) and blocks (76).
- Arkansas is among the nation’s best in six of those categories, including assists per set (11th), hitting percentage (14th), kills per set (10th), assists (13th), kills (15th) and aces (25th).
- On an individual level, the Razorbacks hold 15 top-three marks in the SEC.
- Junior outside hitter Jillian Gillen owns six of those marks including kills (1st SEC, 10th NCAA), attacks (1st SEC, 20th NCAA), points (1st SEC, 15th NCAA), kills per set (1st SEC, 12th NCAA), attacks per set (2nd SEC, 22nd NCAA) and points per set (2nd SEC, 18th NCAA).
- Senior setter Gracie Ryan maintains some of the best assist numbers in the nation as she leads the SEC and is ranked fourth in the NCAA in assists per set (11.60) while also leading her conference and placing second in the country in assists (406).
Scouting Georgia
- The Bulldogs head to The Flats with a 4-5 record to date, including five-set wins over Arizona State and UCF as well as losses to ranked opponents No. 24 Pepperdine and No. 6 Nebraska.
- Georgia joins Arkansas among the top of the SEC ranking second in four categories – assists (453), digs (486), aces (51) and attacks (1,199).
- Within those marks, the Bulldogs are currently 16th in the NCAA in assists and 20th in the country in kills.
- Individually, Georgia owns five top-three stats in the SEC.
- Junior outside hitter Amber Stivrins boasts three of those numbers, ranking third in the SEC in points (133.5), total kills (118) and attacks (301).
- Sophomore middle blocker Phoebe Awoleye leads the SEC in total blocks this season with 40.
- Freshman setter Clara Brower holds a high conference and national mark setting up the Dawgs, coming away with 358 assists to date to rank second in the SEC and 19th in the NCAA.
Up Next
The Jackets will begin conference play on the road with trips to Wake Forest and Virginia Tech. Georgia Tech will travel to Wake Forest for a battle in Winston-Salem, N.C. on Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. before wrapping up the weekend with Virginia Tech Sept. 26 at 1 p.m. in Blacksburg, Va.
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, follow us on Instagram (@GTVolleyball), Twitter (@GTVolleyball), Facebook (Georgia Tech Volleyball) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com
