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THE FLATS – With back-to-back-to-back sweeps, Georgia Tech volleyball (4-0) took the title at the Hyatt Regency Invitational on Saturday with wins over Abilene Christian and Georgetown. Freshmen Mariana Brambilla and Mikaila Dowd were tabbed to the all-tournament team and Brambilla was named the tournament MVP.
Head coach Michelle Collier says:
Georgia Tech 3, Abilene Christian 0
The only two unbeaten teams in the tournament faced off in the second match of the day. The first set started out close, with neither team taking more than a two point lead to a tie at 12-12. A 5-0 run by the Jackets, sparked by a kill from freshman Mariana Brambilla, gave Tech an edge at 17-12 and Abilene Christian used the first timeout of the match. The Jackets kept rolling and a service ace from freshman Matti McKissock gave Tech its largest lead of the set at 21-14. A kill from sophomore right side Cori Clifton gave Tech set point at 24-16 and an attack error put it away at 25-16 to give the Yellow Jackets the 1-0 advantage.
Tech held the momentum to start out the second set. Another 5-0 run gave the Jackets the early lead at 6-1 on a kill by Brambilla. The Wildcats fought their way back into the set to tie the score at 7-7. The set stayed close to a tie at 13-13 before the Wildcats took a two-point advantage at 15-13. The Jackets used their first timeout then before the set could get out of hand. The Jackets tied the set at 20-20 on back-to-back blocks from the combo of Clifton and junior Kodie Comby. The team kept battling and with the set tied at 23-23 on another kill from Brambilla, sophomore Kendall Wilson came up with a monster block to give the Jackets set point. An attack error by the Wildcats gave Tech the win at 25-23 and the 2-0 lead.
Abilene Christian bounced back to take a 3-0 lead in the third but the Jackets swarmed right back to tie the set at 4-4 on a kill from Wilson. The teams went back and forth before a service ace from Comby put Tech up by two at 11-9. The set stayed close until 5-1 run spurred by a kill from senior Lauren Frerking put Tech up 17-12 and Abilene Christian used a timeout to slow the Jackets. A block off the hands of Comby and Clifton gave Tech a six-point lead at 20-14. At that point the set belonged to the Jackets and Tech secured its second sweep of the season at 25-15 on a block from Frerking and Clifton.
Georgia Tech 3, Georgetown 0
The Jackets got off to a strong start, taking an early lead at 4-1 off a kill from Clifton. The Hoyas stuck with it, battling back but a 4-0 run by the Jackets with two kill from Dowd and a block from Comby and Clifton to lead 12-7. Tech took a seven-point lead at 15-8 on a solo block from Comby but Georgetown made a run to bring it back within four. The Hoyas came within one at 22-21 and the Jackets called their first timeout of the set. Dowd came out of the timeout with a kill to keep Tech on track. A block from Comby and Clifton gave Tech set point but the Hoyas tied the set at 24-24. The Jackets never trailed and with their fourth set point, Dowd and Frerking put up a block to take the set for the Jackets at 27-25.
The second set started out close. With six tied scores, the Jackets never trailed to a tie at 12-12. The Hoyas took their first lead at 13-12. Tech tied the score back up but Georgetown went up by two at 16-14 and Tech took its first timeout of the set. Tech took the first point coming out of the timeout and a kill from Brambilla tied the set at 16-16. A well-placed kill from Comby gave Tech back the lead at 17-16 and Georgetown used its first timeout. The Jackets kept at it, making a six-point run and Georgetown burned its second timeout as the Jackets extended their lead to 20-16. The Hoyas took a 5-0 run out of their second timeout to tie it at 20-20, inciting Tech to call its second timeout of the set. Clifton put Tech back on top with a kill coming out of the huddle but Georgetown responded to tie it again. A 3-0 run sparked by a kill from Brambilla put Tech up 24-21 and a solo block by Frerking took the set for Tech at 25-20, giving the White and Gold a 2-0 advantage.
The Hoyas took an early lead in the third set and trailing 7-3, Tech called a timeout. The Jackets took four in a row coming out of the timeout and Brambilla tied the score at 7-7 with a service ace, forcing Georgetown to call timeout. The Hoyas snuck back ahead by two but the Jackets made a 4-0 run, capped by a block from Dowd and Comby to lead 11-9. The Hoyas kept it close but the Jackets never trailed again and completed the sweep with a 25-19 win of the third set.
Up Next:
The Jackets are back at home for another tournament next week, Thursday-Friday, Aug. 30-31 in O’Keefe Gymnasium. Tech will play four matches as part of the tournament and are scheduled to take the court at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. on both days.
GT vs. ACU Tech tidbits:
- On the heels of last night’s career night against Winthrop, sophomore Kendall Wilson rewrote her career high in kills with seven.
- The sweep was Tech’s second sweep in less than 24 hours having swept Winthrop on Friday night.
- Freshman Mariana Brambilla recorded her second double-double of the season with 11 kills and 10 digs.
- Brambilla’s 11 kills were a match high.
- Tech has out-blocked its opponents 28 to 17 in the 2018 season and is averaging 9.3 total blocks a match.
GT vs. GU Tech tidbits:
- Freshman Breland Morrissette made her collegiate debut against Georgetown.
- Redshirt junior Coral Kazaroff made her debut in a Yellow Jacket uniform.
- Brambilla recorded her third double-double of the season with 12 kills and 11 digs.
- The sweep was Tech’s third sweep in 24 hours.
- Tech once again out-blocked its opponent 12.5 to 7.
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