LEXINGTON, Ky. – Georgia Tech volleyball (7-0) has been ranked No. 10 in the week three AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Women’s Poll, the organization announced on Monday. The White and Gold’s 10-spot ties the seventh highest ranking in program history, joining the squads from 2003, 2021 and 2022 as the only teams to enter the top 10.
After holding at No. 11 for two straight weeks despite back-to-back victories over then No. 12 Ohio State a week ago, the Yellow Jackets slid up after sweeping the field at the Florida A&M Invitational to tie the fourth hottest start in program history.
From the preseason to week one, the White and Gold had made the largest improvement of teams in the preseason poll, rising nine spots from their initial rank of No. 20.
Reappearing in the top 25 for the first time since 2005 at No. 12 on Sept. 30, 2020, Tech has since been listed in 58 straight top 25 polls to date. The Yellow Jackets reached as high as No. 5 during that stretch for two consecutive weeks from Aug. 29 – Sept. 5 a season ago, the highest ranking for the White and Gold since 2003 and the second-best mark all time.
Tech is one of three ACC teams inside the top 10. Having bested formerly No. 8 Penn State and previous No. 12 Ohio State twice, the Jackets are slated to face two more opponents currently ranked in the top 10 this season in No. 2 Louisville and No. 8 Pitt. Each of the aforementioned teams reached the NCAA Tournament in 2022, highlighted by national title contenders Louisville and Final Four foe Pitt. Previously topped Penn State (Sweet 16) and Ohio State (Elite Eight) also made deep runs in the 2022 postseason.
The Yellow Jackets enter the fourth week of the season amongst the top three in the ACC and top 15 in the NCAA in four major categories – second in the league and sixth in the nation in assists per set (13.50), leading the conference and eighth in the country in digs per set (17.54), second in the ACC and fourth in the NCAA in kills per set (14.75) and third in the league and 13th in the nation in opponent hitting percentage (.131).
Individually, senior libero Paola Pimentel has been all over the floor, leading the conference and placing 13th in the country in digs per set (5.21). Junior outside hitter Bianca Bertolino has been a weapon from the service line, ranking second in the league and 24th in the nation in aces per set (0.62). Also owning top-three marks amongst the ACC for the Jackets are senior setter Bella D’Amico with 10.21 assists per set along with freshman outside hitter Larissa Mendes with 3.79 kills per set.
Tech has won 86 of its last 106 matches dating back to 2019. The Yellow Jackets have also claimed 46 of their last 53 matches at home in O’Keefe Gymnasium, now owing over 300 wins inside the raucous arena.
Georgia Tech will make its home debut by hosting the Georgia Tech Classic, beginning with Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate against Georgia on Friday at 7 p.m. in McCamish Pavilion, presented by Delta. The White and Gold will also take on Howard on Saturday at 4 p.m. and San Diego on Sunday at 1 p.m. in O’Keefe Gymnasium.
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.
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