TEH FLATS – Freshman setter Heloise Soares has been recognized by the Atlantic Coast Conference as the freshman of the week, the league office announced Monday. Soares was a key player in Georgia Tech’s victory over then-No. 3 Louisville on Friday night, the highest-ranked home win in program history.
This is the second ACC Freshman of the Week honor for Soares, joining fellow freshman opposite Larissa Mendes, Olivia Babcock (Pitt) and Torrey Stafford (Pitt) as repeat winners this season. Georgia Tech and Pitt are the only teams in the conference to have multiple freshmen receive the award.
The recognitions come after the newly ranked No. 8 Yellow Jackets defeated then-No. 3 Louisville and Notre Dame over the weekend. The Louisville win marked the second Top 10 victory of the season, the first time in program history the White and Gold have secured multiple Top 10 wins in the same season (No. 8 Penn State – August 26). Tech swept Notre Dame on Sunday thanks to its best defensive effort of the season, holding the Irish to just .020 hitting, the lowest of the season.
Freshman of the Week: Heloise Soares
Soares teamed up with senior setter Bella D’Amico to lead the Georgia Tech offense in the 6-2 system. Soares posted 38 assists (5.43/set) across both contests, adding in 10 digs (1.43/set). She served all throughout Tech’s 8-0 scoring run in the final set against Notre Dame. Although she didn’t record an ace all weekend, her serving was a vital part in allowing Georgia Tech to go on sustained scoring runs against both the Irish and Louisville.
Soares was excellent at setting the middle blocker position throughout the weekend, but especially against Louisville. The Tech middle blocker tandem of DeAndra Pierce and Anna Boezi combined for 17 kills on a remarkably efficient .419 hitting in the win over Louisville, the most kills from the middle blocker position in a match this season.
UP NEXT
Georgia Tech will aim for its third Top 10 victory of the season this weekend when the Jackets host No. 7 Pittsburgh (21-4, 12-2 ACC) on Friday at 5 p.m. inside O’Keefe Gymnasium. The match will be broadcast on ACC Network.
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