Sept. 11, 2009
Watch The Final Few Minutes As Tech Beats Clemson
ATLANTA – Sophomore Bailey Hunter had a career-high 19 kills as the Georgia Tech Volleyball team (5-2, 1-0 ACC) took down Clemson (5-2, 0-1), 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 25-16, 15-25, 15-8) Friday night in the Courtyard Classic at O’Keefe Gym.
Four Yellow Jackets recorded double-figure kills led by Hunter’s 19. Senior Brittany Roderick, who began the night a perfect 8-for-8, tied her career-high with 15 kills. Freshman Monique Mead posted her third double-double of the season with 12 kills and 11 digs, while junior Jordan McCullers had a career-best 25 digs. Senior Chrissy DeMichelis also chipped in with 13 kills and six total blocks (three solo) and sophomore Asia Stawicka tallied nine kills and four total blocks as well for Tech.
Behind senior Brittany Roderick’s five kills and perfect 1.000 hitting percentage, Georgia Tech won the first set 25-21. The set was close to begin, but the Jackets broke open an 11-11 tie with a quick four-point burst forcing a Clemson timeout. The Tigers got within two points several times as they tried to even the set, but Tech did not let them back in. Sophomore Bailey Hunter also had four kills in the set as Tech hit .342.
Clemson led by six points in the second set before the Jackets tried to mount a late rally and prevent the Tigers from tying the match. It was 18-12 Clemson before Tech began chipping away. The Yellow Jackets got within a point twice, including 24-23, but Clemson hung on to even the match at a set apiece. Hunter led Tech with seven kills in set number two, but Clemson hit .303 as a team behind six kills apiece from Lia proctor and Natalie Patzin.
Clemson led set three early 4-3, but a 7-0 run by the Yellow Jackets gave them a commanding 10-4 lead. The Tigers got within four points, but Tech answered right back to re-take its eight-point advantage. Clemson never got any closer than five points the rest of the way as Tech cruised to a 25-16 win. Hunter led Tech again with five kills in the set as Clemson hit just -.091.
Clemson continued the nightly trend as it jumped out to an early 7-2 lead in the fourth set. The Yellow Jackets began chipping away, but was forced to use its final timeout when the Tigers opened up a 15-9 advantage. The Yellow Jackets never got any closer than that six-point margin the rest of the way as Clemson forced a fifth set with a 25-15 win. Mead led Tech with four kills as it hit just .069. Clemson, meanwhile, hit .458.
The fifth set was tied at three early on, but the Jackets broke it wide open soon thereafter. A 4-0 run opened things up and after using a timeout, Clemson would not get within three points again as the Jackets pulled away 15-7.
The Georgia Tech Courtyard Classic continues Saturday with four matches being played at O’Keefe Gym. The Yellow Jackets will face Southeast Missouri State at 12:30 p.m. and then Mississippi at 7 p.m. At 10:30 a.m., Clemson takes on Ole Miss, while the Tigers then tangle with SEMO at 4:30 p.m. Both of Tech’s matches will be broadcast on WREK, 91.1 FM and online at www.RamblinWreck.com. Live stats for all four matches are available via Gametracker, also at www.RamblinWreck.com.
