Sept. 25, 2009
ATLANTA – Freshman Monique Mead (15) and sophomore Bailey Hunter (14) combined for 29 kills as the Georgia Tech Volleyball team (8-4, 2-0 ACC) swept NC State (7-9, 0-1), 3-0 (25-13, 25-20, 25-22) The Yellow Jackets improve to 7-0 at home this season and have now won 19 straight matches against NC State, including 13 by a 3-0 score.
“I think we came out and played some great volleyball in the first set tonight,” said head coach Tonya Johnson. “We let up a little as the match went on, but it’s certainly nice to be back at home in front of our fans and get back on the winning track by picking up a conference win.”
Mead hit .571 for the match with her 15 kills and also had seven digs. Hunter, meanwhile, had 14 kills on a .320 hitting percentage. Sophomore Asia Stawicka added six kills and hit .600 for Tech, whole senior Brittany Roderick chipped in with seven kills. Juniors Mary Ashley Tippins and Jordan McCullers as well as freshman Hannah Tucci each added six digs for Tech and Tippins also dished out a match-high 40 assists. The Jackets hit .400 for the match, while holding NC State to .190.
In the first set, Tech raced out to a 9-3 lead as NC State used a timeout and never looked back. The Wolfpack used another timeout when the Jacket lead stretched to 11 points at 18-7, but it did not slow the Tech offense down one bit. Tech cruised to a 25-13 win and took a 1-0 lead in the match. Mead (6) and Hunter (5) led the Tech attack with 11 kills. The Jackets hit .680 for the set and held NC State to .100.
The second set was much different as it was close throughout. Tech led by as many as five points early, but the Wolfpack came back to keep it close. The Jackets’ lead hovered between three and five points for most of the set, but a mini NC State run got it within a point at 20-19. It was later 22-20 when the Jackets reeled off the next three points to win the set 25-20 and take a 2-0 lead in the match. Hunter led the Jackets in the second set with five kills, while Mead had four. The Jackets hit .317 for the set compared to NC State’s .182 percentage. Mead also added six digs for Tech.
The third set was close again as every time it looked like the Yellow Jackets were going to pull away, NC State clawed back. The Pack got within a point several times but was never able to tie the set up again. The Jackets led 19-18 and closed out the set by taking six of the final 10 points to win 25-22 and sweep the match.
Georgia Tech will next host North Carolina on Sunday at 1 p.m. at O’Keefe Gym. Fans can listen to the match at WREK, 91.1 FM and online at www.RamblinWreck.com. Live stats will also be available at www.RamblinWreck.com through Gametracker.
