Oct. 4, 2009
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Freshman Monique Mead recorded her second straight double-double but it was not enough as the Georgia Tech Volleyball team (10-5, 4-1 ACC) lost a five-set thriller to Miami (9-6, 2-3), 3-2 (22-25, 26-24, 29-31, 27-25, 9-15) Sunday afternoon at the James Knight Complex.
For Mead, it was her sixth double-double of the season as she had 18 kills, 10 digs and three total blocks. Junior Mary Ashley Tippins notched her first double-double of the season as she had a match-high 60 assists to go along with 10 digs. Senior Chrissy DeMichelis had 17 kills, while senior Brittany Roderick had 12 kills, five digs and hit .381.
“Today was a battle and the team that executed in the end won the match,” said head coach Tonya Johnson. “My biggest concern was having a let down after such a big win on Friday night. Next time, we have to respond better when we are in this situation. “
Sophomore Bailey Hunter also reached double-figures for Tech for the 13th straight match with 10 kills and junior Jordan McCullers led the Yellow Jackets with 20 digs. Freshman Susan Carlson also turned in a solid performance for the Yellow Jackets with 13 digs, six kills and a .417 hitting percentage. Tech hit .191 for the match compared to Miami’s .194.
Miami took the early advantage in set one building up a lead as big as six points at 10-4 until Tech began to chip away. It was later 13-9 Miami when the Jackets reeled off four straight points to tie the set and force a Hurricane timeout. The teams traded the next several points, but when Miami opened up a 22-19 lead the Yellow Jackets called for time to try and come back to win the set. Miami did not give in and went on to win the set 25-22.
Set number two was also close. Miami had an early three-point advantage but Georgia Tech quickly came back to tie it up. The two teams played through the teens close, but the Yellow Jackets had to call a timeout when Miami went up 20-18. The time worked as the Jacked scored two quick points to tie the set at 20 and this time, Miami used the timeout. Miami soon led 24-22 and Tech called time in danger of falling behind in the match 2-0. A kill by DeMichelis made it 24-23 and then Mead tied it with a kill of her own.
After a Miami timeout, the Jackets continued the run as kills by Hunter and senior Brittany Roderick gave them a much-needed come-from-behind win to even the match at one set apiece. In all, it was a 4-0 by the Jackets to close out the set.
In set three, the Yellow Jackets used a 10-3 run to overcome a five-point deficit and take a 23-21 lead. Miami came back with three points of its own to re-take the lead and hold set point but the Jackets answered and sent the set into extra points once again. Georgia Tech saw Miami fight off four straight set points, but the Hurricanes tallied three points in a row to win the set 31-29 and take a 2-1 lead for the match.
Miami took an early 7-5 lead in the fourth set, but a 4-0 run by the Yellow Jackets gave them the lead. Tech led for much of the way, but the Hurricanes hung around and eventually tied the set at 21. Tech fought off two set points and then three straight errors by Miami’s Christine Williamson gave the Yellow Jackets the match-tying win.
Georgia Tech led the fifth set early 3-1, but Miami ran off five straight points to open up a 6-3 lead and force the Yellow Jackets to call a timeout. It did not slow down the Hurricane attack, however. Miami made it 8-3 before a Mead kill ended Tech’s scoreless drought. Four would be as close as the Jackets would get though. Miami ran away with a 15-9 win and handed the Jackets their first ACC loss of the season.
The Yellow Jackets now return home where they are 8-0 in O’Keefe Gym to host a pair of ACC matches next weekend. Tech will take on Maryland at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, and then welcome Boston College the following night, also at 7 p.m. Both matches will be broadcast live on WREK, 91.1 FM in Atlanta and online at www.RamblinWreck.com. Live stats will also be available via the Gametracker link.
