ATLANTA (Nov. 22) – Georgia Tech’s volleyball team concludes its 1999 season this week, hosting arch-rival Georgia on Friday night at 8 p.m. at O’Keefe Gymnasium.
Tech (16-14), enters the week’s play having dropped three straight, including its ACC Tournament quarterfinal match last Friday night to Wake Forest in three games.
“There’s no question we have had a less than fulfilling season,” said head coach Shelton Collier. “So this match provides an opportunity for us to end our season with a rewarding victory.”
Sophomore Maja Pachale (Schwerin, Germany), a 1999 first team all-ACC honoree, continues to shine for the Jackets, presently leading the ACC with 4.65 kill per game. Pachale needs just 20 against Georgia to set a new single-season record for kills, overtaking Cris Omiecinski’s mark of 517 in 1993.
The visit by the Bulldogs (10-15) marks the first time that Georgia has played at O’Keefe Gymnasium, with their last trip to the Flats coming back in 1991 when Tech played its home matches in Heisman Gym.
A year ago, when the series between the teams resumed after a six-year hiatus, the Dogs downed the Jackets in four games in Athens.
“I think it’s great for our volleyball team to be part of the Georgia rivalry weekend,” said Collier. “Our players are really looking forward to this match, and we should have a great crowd in O’Keefe Gym on Friday night.”
Friday’s game will be rebroadcast on a tape-delay basis on Fox Sports Net South. Art Eckman will handle the play-by-play, while Phil Bush will provide the color analysis.
