Sept. 11, 2008
ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech volleyball team will head out of state for the first time this season when it travels to Oxford, Miss. for a two-day tournament at Ole Miss. The Yellow Jackets are coming off their only loss of the season, falling in a five-set heartbreaker to No. 25 Michigan in the championship match of the Regency Suites Classic, and look to rebound against a talented field at the Magnolia Invitational. Tech (5-1) will open the tournament against SMU (4-3) at 11 a.m. ET Friday, before facing 2007 NCAA Tournament participant and host Mississippi (2-4) at 8 p.m. the same evening. The Jackets will wrap up tournament play with an 11 a.m. match Saturday against Eastern Illinois (3-4).
Magnolia Invitational Schedule
Fri.: Georgia Tech vs. SMU, 10 a.m. CT Mississippi vs. Eastern Illinois, 1 p.m. CT Eastern Illinois vs. SMU, 4 p.m. CT Mississippi vs. Georgia Tech, 7 p.m. CTSat.: Georgia Tech vs. Eastern Illinois, 10 a.m. CT Mississippi vs. SMU, 1 p.m. CT
Georgia Tech’s offense is run by senior setter Allie Niekamp (10.56 Apg) and sophomore setter Mary Ashley Tippins (11.67 Apg) and led by senior outside hitter Talisa Kellogg (2.40 Kpg) and senior middle hitter Callie Miller (2.77 Kpg/0.73 Bpg). The Jackets’ defense is anchored by senior libero Michelle Kandell (4.27 Dpg).
Game Coverage: Live stats will be available for each match by visiting www.olemisssports.com.
Tech vs. the Opponents (Ole Miss leads GT, 1-0, GT leads SMU, 1-0)
Ole Miss won the one and only match between the two teams back in 1991 by a 3-1 score at the Hilton Head Super Smash Tournament in mid-September. The Jackets went 27-9 that season, losing just two of their first 16 matches.
Tech defeated SMU, 3-0, in the one and only match between the Jackets and Mustangs. That match occured at O’Keefe Gym on Sept. 20, 2007, in a year in which the Jackets went 19-15.
The Jackets and Panthers of Eastern Illinois have never met.
Eight in 2008
This season the Yellow Jackets play eight matches against teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2007, including host Mississippi this weekend. So far, the Yellow Jackets are 1-1 in 2008 against 2007 NCAA participants.
Jackets Still Receiving Votes
For the third-straight week, the Yellow Jacket volleyball team is on mind of coaches from across the country as they continue to receive votes in the AVCA Top-25 poll. Tech hasn’t cracked the top-25 since the preseason 2005 poll.
Jackets to Participate in 3rd D4C
Two years ago the Georgia Tech volleyball team participated in its first Dig for the Cure event and raised thousands of dollars for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, which helps fund breast cancer research. The Jackets have continued the tradition every year since, and this season Tech will be participating yet again, Digging for the Cure Oct. 3 when they host the Florida State Seminoles at 7 p.m. The team began taking donations and pledges the first weekend in September when they hosted the Regency Suites/Georgia Tech Classic at O’Keefe Gym. For more information on how to get involved, contact Jennifer Carey in the Georgia Tech volleyball office at 404.894.5450.
Tech on the Tube This Weekend
SportSouth will broadcast the Yellow Jackets’ home matches against Michigan, Florida State and Duke on a tape-delay basis this season. The match dates and times, in addition to air dates are as follows:
Sept. 7 v. UM – to air 9/13, 1 p.m. and 9/17, 8 p.m.
Oct. 3 v. FSU, 7 p.m. – to air 10/11, 1 p.m.; 10/15, 8 p.m.
Oct. 10 v. DU, 7 p.m. – to air 10/18, 1 p.m.; 10/22, 8 p.m.
