April 14, 2021

Tech Tops Lipscomb in First Round of NCAA Tournament

Box Score | Photo Gallery | Highlights | Post-match Press Conference

OMAHA, Neb. – Led by a career-high 31 kills by sophomore Julia Bergmann, No. 23-ranked Georgia Tech volleyball won its first NCAA Tournament match in nearly 17 years, a 3-1 (25-21, 16-25, 25-21, 25-19) triumph over Lipscomb in the opening round of the 2020-21 NCAA Volleyball Championship on Wednesday evening at the CHI Health Center.

With the victory, Georgia Tech (14-4) advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004, where it will face third-seeded Minnesota on Thursday evening at the CHI Health Center. The match is set for 7 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on ESPN3.

Bergmann’s 31 kills were the most ever by a Yellow Jacket in an NCAA Tournament match and the most by a Georgia Tech player in any outing in almost 16 years (Talisa Kellogg – 35 vs. Virginia, Oct. 22, 2005). Bergmann became only the sixth player in Tech history to ever record as many as 31 kills in a single match.

Behind Bergmann’s historic performance, the Jackets, who came into the postseason ranked No. 11 nationally in hitting percentage at .290, hit a whopping .332 as a team on Wednesday.

The first-round win over Lipscomb (17-3) was Georgia Tech’s first NCAA Tournament win since it downed UC Santa Barbara, 3-0, in the second round of the 2004 tournament (Dec. 4, 2004).

Game Notes

Bergmann’s career night marked her ninth double double (31 kills, 15 digs) on the season.
Along with Bergmann, junior outside hitters Mariana Brambilla (11 kills, 18 digs) and Mikaila Dowd (12 kills, 13 digs) also came away with double doubles. Brambilla leads the squad with 10 double doubles.
Apart from Bergmann, Georgia Tech’s biggest advantage over Lipscomb came on the defensive end. The Yellow Jackets had 20 more digs than the Bisons (77-57) and 14 blocks compared to Lipscomb’s seven.
Tech had seven different players finish with a block and five different players with multiple blocks. Bergmann, Brambilla and junior middle blocker Kayla Kaiser led the way with three total apiece.

Highlights

Julia Bergmann with the POWER 💪#NCAAVB x 🎥 @GTVolleyball pic.twitter.com/PxvbErEedt
— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) April 14, 2021

We could mention the fact she already has a double double with 2⃣0⃣ kills and 1⃣1⃣ digs, but LISTEN💥TO💥THAT💥SWING 😳💪
📺: https://t.co/2ezVNPwxyV pic.twitter.com/naX2zS7fWt
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) April 15, 2021

.@erinmoss0428 slamming the door for the win❕
📺: https://t.co/2ezVNPwxyV pic.twitter.com/oH4mHugMvw
— Georgia Tech Volleyball (@GTVolleyball) April 15, 2021