Aug. 29, 2009
Video Interview With Bailey Hunter
ATLANTA – Senior Chrissy DeMichelis and sophomore Bailey Hunter combined for 24 kills as the Georgia Tech Volleyball team (3-0) swept Mercer (0-3), 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-17), Saturday night at O’Keefe Gym to win the Regency Suites Invitational.
Tournament MVP freshman Monique Mead saw her double-double streak end at two, but had six kills and 10 digs for the Jackets. She was joined on the All-Tournament team by DeMichelis and sophomore Asia Stawicka. The libero of the tournament was junior Jordan McCullers. DeMichelis hit .320 on the night, while Stawicka had five kills on a .444 percentage. She also added two digs and four total blocks.
“Overall, I was pleased with our effort tonight,” head coach Tonya Johnson said. “At times we played very well, but at times we were not so great. We stayed composed throughout the match, but I have to tip my hat to Mercer. They played hard and had some situations to win, especially in the first set.”
Tech hit .362 on the night, while Mercer was held to just .103. Mead achieved her six kills on .357 hitting, while junior Mary Ashley Tippins and McCullers had seven digs apiece. Once again, Tippins paced the offense as she added five kills on .714 hitting and 34 assists. Hunter had 11 kills for the Jackets as well as three digs and two total blocks.
“I am very proud of our kids this weekend,” added Johnson. “We bounced back from a very emotional win against Georgia last night and stayed focused throughout both matches today. I saw some very good things out there this weekend, but there are also some things we need to work on.”
The first set was the closest of the match. Every time it looked like the Jackets were going to pull away, Mercer made a charge. The Bears closed within two points at 24-22, before a Stawicka kill sent Tech on its way. Mead led the way in that first set with five of her six kills on the night.
Tech hit .419 in the second set behind five kills by DeMichelis and Hunter as well as four from senior Brittany Roderick. The Jackets led by as many as 12 points, 17-5, before Mercer made a late surge.
DeMichelis and Hunter led the charge again in the third set with four kills apiece as Tech pulled out its second 3-0 win of the day.
The Yellow Jackets return to action next weekend at the Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Bash. On Friday, Sept. 4, the Jackets will face Middle Tennessee State at 8 p.m. and then face Ohio (3 p.m.) and Northern Illinois (8 p.m.) on Saturday, Sept. 5.
2009 Georgia Tech Regency Suites Invitational All-Tournament Team
1. Kathleen Gates, UGA
2. Erika Clark, UGA
3. Stephanie Champine, AP
4. Libby Hansch, Mercer
5. Chrissy DeMichelis, GT
6. Asia Stawicka, GT
MVP: Monique Mead, GT
Libero: Jordan McCullers, GT
