WINSTON-SALEM, NC — Led by Kyleen Bell who tallied 12 kills and Maja Pachale who followed with 10 kills and nine digs , the Georgia Tech volleyball team (24-6, 13-3) defeated NC State (9-22, 1-15) in three games, 15-5, 15-7, 15-10 in the second match of the 2000 Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. With the win, the Jackets advance to the semifinals at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18 and will face the winner of the Florida State/Duke game being played on Friday, Nov. 17.
The Jackets took control of the match early, jumping out to a 12-5 lead in game one on two aces from Eida Mabry and several unforced hitting errors by the Wolfpack. After a NC State sideout, Tech went on to score the games’ final three points on a kill from Amanda Hess, a Hess and Bell stuff block and a called ball handling error on Crystal Shannon.
Game two saw much of the same thing, as the Jackets again jumped out to a huge 13-0 lead. Tech’s serving was dominant as the Jackets were able to score quickly on aces from Geeske Banck, Townsend and Mabry, as well as overpass kills from Hess and Bell. The Wolfpack put together a run, scoring the next seven points on five straight kills from Charece Williams. After a net violation by the Wolfpack, Townsend went back and served the final two points for Tech to take game two, 15-7.
The final game of the match was much closer as NC State regrouped and took a 10-7 lead. But the Jackets fought back on a kill from Pachale and two NC State errors to tie the game at 10-10. Eveland then went back to score the games’ final five points and win 15-10 as Tech scored on three NC State errors and stuff blocks from Mabry and Alexandra Preiss and a block from Pachale and Preiss.
“Our goal is to win the ACC Championship and it was important for us to come out and establish a high level of play in our first match,” said head coach Shelton Collier. “I am happy that we played well and pleased to be playing in the semifinals.”
