Nov. 7, 2001
After winning eight of its last 10 matches, including a thrilling five-game victory over North Carolina last Friday, the Georgia Tech volleyball team (16-6, 10-4 ACC) hits the road this weekend for its final two conference matches of the regular season. On Friday, the Yellow Jackets will take on Virginia (7-15, 3-11 ACC) at 8 p.m. in University Hall, followed by a 4 p.m. meeting with Maryland (10-12, 6-8 ACC) on Saturday in Ritchie Coliseum.
“Winning on the road in our league is always a challenge so we will need our seniors, Maja Pachale and Kyleen Bell, to step up and lead the way,” said head coach Shelton Collier.
The Jackets continue to be led by senior Pachale who leads the team in kills (383) and became the career all-time kill leader at Georgia Tech last weekend against NC State. But sophomore setter Kele Eveland has been a steady factor in running the offense and on defense in recent matches for the Jackets.
“The key to our resurgence at this point has been Kele,” said Collier. “Her setting and leadership have taken a big step up and our team is responding well.”
In their meeting in Atlanta this season, the Yellow Jackets defeated the Cavaliers in three games. Pachale led Tech in that match as she recorded 19 kills , while freshman Lynnette Moster tallied the first double-double of her career with 11 kills and 12 digs. Tech’s performance was impressive, hitting .345 as a team while holding Virginia to a .157 hitting percentage.
The Yellow Jackets defeated the Terrapins in a come-from-behind five-game victory in their previous match. Pachale led Tech with 21 kills and 16 digs, while Kyleen Bell had 16 kills and five blocks followed by Alexandra Preiss who notched 13 kills and eight blocks.
“It certainly looks as if we will turn right around a face Maryland in the first round of the ACC Tournament so it will be extra important to play well and win at Maryland,” said Collier.
As the Jackets head into the final week of conference play, Tech stands in third place in the standings and needs a victory this weekend to assure the team of a third-place finish.
“Of course, we need to win the matches against both Virginia and Maryland, but I am even more focused on our level of play,” said Collier. “We want to begin the ACC Tournament as one of the ‘hot’ teams that can turn it up and win the ACC title.”
“The most important thing for our team is to enter the ACC Tournament next weekend playing our best volleyball of the season,” said Collier.
