TALLAHASSEE, FLA – Behind a season-high 29 kills from Maja Pachale and a career-high 74 assists from Kele Eveland, the Georgia Tech (16-4, 7-1) volleyball team rallied from a two-game deficit to defeat Florida State (14-8, 2-5) on Friday night in five games, 9-15, 13-15, 15-6, 15-9, 15-10, to increase their win streak to seven matches. The win also marks the best conference start the Yellow Jackets have had in the history of their program.
The Yellow Jackets started the match off in control as they jumped out to an early 6-0 lead as they scored four straight points behind the serving of Pachale, coupled with kills from Teryl Townsend, and a block from Eida Mabry and Townsend. However, the Seminoles would begin to sideout and get into offensive rhythm and catch Tech at 7-7 on a hitting error from Mabry. The Jackets would score to make the game 9-9 on a setter dump from Eveland, but FSU quickly sided out and then scored the final six points of the game on two kills from Kristen Frye, a kill from Norisha Campbell, and a net violation by Eveland. In the game, the Seminoles hit an impressive .373, and held Tech to a .171 percentage.
The start of game two seemed much like the first, as again, Tech jumped out to an early 5-0 lead as Kyleen Bell had strong serves, and the Jackets were able to score on two kills from Pachale, and a kill from Bell. But, FSU would come right back and notch the score at 5 a piece as the Jackets began to make hitting errors. With the Jackets ahead 8-7, Tech’s passing virtually fell apart as the Seminoles were able to score on three straight aces to make the score 8-11. Tech hung in the game and began to play solid defense forcing Seminole errors, and scored on a kill from Mabry to make the score 11-13. But, again, the passing for Tech suffered as Townsend was aced to make the score 11-14. Tech would score two points to make the score 13-14 on kills from Pachale and a hitting error from Werrick, but the Seminoles hung in the game and scored on a hitting error from Townsend to take game two, 15-13.
In game three, Tech fell behind early 0-3 as Pachale was aced, Geeske Banck recorded an error, and Campbell connected for a kill. Townsend notched a kill for a sideout, and Tech was able to get on the board on a kill from Pachale on a FSU overpass. Bell recorded an ace to make the score 2-3, and then the two teams would battle back and forth with sideouts. The Jackets finally notched the score at 3-3 on a kill from Mabry, but the Seminoles took the lead again, 4-3 as Banck recorded her second hitting error of the game. Again the two teams sided out, before the Jackets finally took control of the game. With the score 7-5, Tech scored three straight points on an ace from Mabry, and kills from Bell and Pachale and a solo block from Pachale. At 11-6, both teams again sided out for five rotations before Eveland served four points and Tech scored on a FSU hitting error, two kills from Townsend and a kill from Pachale to win game three, 15-6.
Game four saw the Jackets score the first five points on four hitting errors by the Seminoles. With the score 6-2, the two teams sided-out six times before the Seminoles made the score 6-3 on a kill from Alex Sevillano. Then the Seminoles would make the score 7-6 as Banck recorded an error and Campbell connected on a kill. However, the Jackets would come back and score four points to make the score 11-6 on two kills from Banck, an ace from Mabry and a kill out of the backrow from Pachale. Seven sideouts occurred before FSU scored two points on hitting errors from Mabry and Pachale. But, the Jackets came right back and scored to make it 13-8 on kills from Mabry and Banck. The Seminoles would score only one more point on a lift called on Eveland, before Tech scored the final two points to win the game, 15-9 on kills from Pachale.
The two teams battled back and forth in game five scoring points on eight sideouts. The score was 4-4 before Tech finally scored on its serve with a kill from Bell to make it 5-4. Then, with the score 5-5, the Jackets sided out on a kill from Mabry, and Mabry went back to score three more points on an ace, a kill from Eveland, and a hitting error by Dawn Hough. Tech led 9-5 before FSU would score on a serving error from Mabry, and a hitting error by Banck. However, the Jackets would get the ball back on a serving error by FSU and then score on an ace from Banck and a hitting error by Campbell to make the score 12-7. Erica Bunch came back with a kill to make the score 12-8, but the Jackets scored on a kill from Pachale to make it 13-8. The Seminoles’ final point came on a kill from Kristen Frye and a Townsend hitting error, but with Eveland serving, the Jackets scored the match’s final two points on a kill from Pachale and a stuff block by Pachale and Townsend.
In addition to Pachale, the Jackets had three players in double-figure kills as Townsend recorded 21 kills on 37 attempts (.351), Mabry had 18 kills on 32 swings (.406) and Bell notched 14 kills on 29 attacks (.414). Defensively, Tech was led by Pachale who had 12 digs and Townsend who recorded six block assists.
Georgia Tech steps out of conference to play Florida A&M at 1 p.m. on Sunday in Tallahassee, Fla.
