Nov. 8, 2009
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Georgia Tech Volleyball team (18-7, 12-3 ACC) hit .337 en route to a 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-18) win over Maryland (11-17, 3-12) Sunday afternoon. The Yellow Jackets completed their road trip at 4-0 and now close out the regular season with four of the final five matches at O’Keefe Gym.
Freshman Monique Mead had 11 kills on .429 hitting while sophomore Bailey Hunter hit .500 en route to her 10 kills. Mead also added six digs. Senior Brittany Roderick hit .375 and chipped in with eight kills for the Jackets. Junior Mary Ashley Tippins paced the offense with 36 assists and also added five kills and four digs. Junior Jordan McCullers had a team-high 15 digs.
In the first set, Maryland led by as many as four points early before the Yellow Jackets came charging back. The Terrapins then led 11-8 when Georgia Tech went on a 6-1 run to take a two-point lead. Maryland tied the set up but then the Yellow Jackets reeled off 11 of the final 16 points to win the set going away, 25-20.
Maryland led for most of the way in the second set as it looked to even the match up. The Terps led by as many as four points late before the Yellow Jackets tried to make a come-back. Tech scored three straight points to make it a 20-19 score but then Maryland came back with two straight to go back up by three points at 22-19. A few points later it was 23-21 Maryland when the Jackets called their last timeout to try and mount one last come-back.
It worked for Tech. Three quick points capped by a Mead kill gave the Jackets set point and Maryland used timeout this time. It did not work the Maryland however as a kill by Stawicka capped the come-back and gave the Jackets a come-from-behind 25-23 win. All told, it was a 9-3 run that the Yellow Jackets closed out on to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.
In the third set, Maryland jumped out to an early 8-4 lead, but the Yellow Jackets came back to tie it up at 11. Tech took its first lead at 14-13 and forced Maryland to use a timeout. It was tied at 16 apiece when the Jackets ran off three quick points to open up their largest lead of the set and force the Terps into a timeout. Maryland closed to within two points, but the Jackets ran off five unanswered points and went on to win the match 25-18 and secure its second straight sweep on the road.
The Yellow Jackets will now close out the regular season with four of their final five matches at home. Up first will be Miami and No. 16 Florida State. Tech hosts the Hurricanes next Friday at 6 p.m. and then the Seminoles at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Both matches will be broadcast on WREK, 91.1 FM and online at www.RamblinWreck.com. Live stats will also be available via the Gametracker link.
