Aug. 26, 2017
THE FLATS – Battling through all five sets, Georgia Tech volleyball (0-2) fell to Furman (1-1), 3-2, on Saturday morning at O’Keefe Gymnasium. Tech plays its final match of the Hyatt Regency Invitational at 8 p.m. on Saturday against No. 17 Michigan State.
Head coach Michelle Collier says:
“I thought we showed a lot of resilience to win that fourth set and kept fighting in the fifth. It was definitely a big improvement from last night but I still feel we are beating ourselves more than our opponent is. We need to take care of the ball and make some plays on our side a little better to be able to finish matches like that. We have to continue to improve, stay focused on the process and where we are going. We’ve got another opportunity to play a great team tonight on our home court.”
How it happened:
The two teams traded points early in the first but Tech used an 8-2 run sparked by senior Ashley Askin to take a 10-5 edge. The Paladins brought it back within two but a block from seniors Sydney Wilson and Gabriela Stavnetchei triggered another run by the Jackets to put the set out of reach for Furman. Wilson found the floor with a kill to seal the set for the Jackets at 25-15.
The Jackets carried that momentum into the second, coming out to a 9-5 lead but the Paladins clawed their way back into the set, tying the Jackets at 10-10 before taking the lead at 12-11. Wilson kept the Jackets close with back-to-back kills but an 8-0 run by the Paladins put the set in Furman’s hands. The Jackets fought back with a 4-0 run but the set was out of reach and the Paladins tied the match at 1-1 with a 25-20 win of the second.
Tech bounced back, taking a 10-4 advantage in the third but again Furman came back, knotting the match up at 12. The Paladins briefly took the lead but Tech held tough and tied it at 14 off a block from Wilson and junior Lauren Frerking before retaking the lead. It looked like the set was in the Tech’s pocket at 23-18 from a Stavnetchei kill but an 8-0 run fueled Furman to the win, taking a 2-1 advantage.
It looked like Furman was going to seal the match in the fourth with the set at 17-10 but sophomore Kodie Comby stepped up to the plate, throwing down six of her career high 15 kills in the fourth to keep the Jackets alive. Comby tied the game at 23-23 and the two teams traded points before another kill from Comby put Tech ahead at 26-25 before taking the set at 27-25.
The fifth set was well matched featuring 16 ties. Tech and Furman fought to a tie at 20 before Furman put away the set and the match at 22-20.
Four Jackets put up double-digit kills in Stavnetchei (14), Wilson (12), Askin (12) and Comby (15). Freshman Cori Clifton tallied eight kills, doubling her total from Friday night’s debut and hitting at a .389 clip. Freshman Nicole Alford set for 13 assists and senior Gabby Benda put up 45 assists, a high for the senior while in a Yellow Jacket uniform (she totaled 60 in 2014 while playing for Marquette.)
Up next:
Tech gets right back in the gym tonight at 8 p.m. when it takes on No. 17 Michigan State in the final match of the Hyatt Regency Invitational. Fans can purchase tickets for the evening session, which starts at 6 p.m. with Auburn-Furman, here . Parking is available in Peters Parking Deck, located next to Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Quick Hits:
– Freshmen Nicole Alford and Alessia Del Romano made their first career starts.
– Kodie Comby recorded a career high 15 kills, leading the Jackets on offense.
– Comby tied her career best in block assists with five.
– Four Jackets reached double digit kills in Stavnetchei, Comby, Wilson and Askin.
– Stavnetchei posted her first double-double of the season with 14 kills and 16 digs.
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