Nov. 6, 2016
THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech volleyball team (20-6, 11-3 ACC) fell, 3-1, against Pitt (19-7, 10-4) on Sunday afternoon at O’Keefe Gym, snapping a 10-match winning streak for the Yellow Jackets.
How It Happened
In set one, the Jackets recovered from an 11-7 deficit to tie the set 13-13. Pitt began to pull away at 16-13, and eventually was poised at set point 24-18. The Jackets fought back with four-straight points, but it wasn’t enough as Pitt managed to put the set away 25-22.
Tied 15-15 in game two, the Panthers rattled off five straight to make it 20-15. Pitt stayed in rhythm and went up 23-17 before winning the set 25-18.
The Jackets regrouped in the break and turned a 13-12 lead into a 17-12 advantage behind three kills from Teegan Van Gunst. Georgia Tech kept the momentum and put the set away on another kill by Teegan Van Gunst to win 25-22.
Georgia Tech battled back into the fourth game. Pitt had set point 24-19 when the Jackets marched back to tie the game 24-24 thanks in part to three blocks. The Panthers dug deep and scored the final two points to win 26-24.
Quote
“I think we finished it out playing some pretty good volleyball,” head coach Michelle Collier said. “I think the first two games, offensively, we just didn’t do a good job but that started with our serve-receive. We needed to stay right there with them, I think that was a big difference in the match on how they served as we were just a little uncomfortable with our serve-receive.
“I’m very proud of how we fought; it was a great fight at the end there putting ourselves in the position to go to the fifth game. We knew that they’re good team. I was pretty pleased with the way that we finished fighting.”
Quick Hits
-Teegan Van Gunst tallied 18 kills on .317 hitting
-Gabriela Stavnetchei added a career-best 17 kills with 10 digs for her seventh double-double this season
-London Ackermann held down the back row with 18 digs
-The Jackets out-blocked the Panthers 14.5 to seven
-Pitt used 12 service aces to seal the win
Up Next
The Jackets hit the road for the first time in two weeks when they travel to North Carolina. Georgia Tech takes on NC State on Friday at 7 p.m., before squaring off against No. 12 North Carolina on Saturday at 7 p.m. Both matches will air on the ACC Network Extra.
Follow Along
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech volleyball team, follow us on Twitter (@GTVolleyball), Instagram (GTVolleyball), Facebook (Georgia Tech Volleyball) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.
