No. 10 Yellow Jackets Wrangle Bison – Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

THE FLATS — No. 10 Georgia Tech volleyball (8-1) took care of Howard (3-7) for its fifth sweep of the season (25-17, 25-13, 25-13) on Saturday in O’Keefe Gymnasium. The Yellow Jackets tied their largest set margin advantage twice with a pair of double-digit triumphs to cruise to victory.

The White and Gold were dominant in all phases, leading the way in kills (37-24), hitting percentage (.337-.101), assists (32-24), aces (9-1), digs (35-30) and blocks (8-4).

On the attack, three Yellow Jackets swung above .500 as sophomore middle blocker Liv Mogridge tied for the team lead with nine kills at a squad-best .667 clip, junior middle blocker DeAndra Pierce added five kills on a .714 hitting percentage and graduate middle blocker Afedo Manyang contributed four kills at a .571 rate.

Mogridge also led the defense with five blocks while senior outside hitter Tamara Otene finished alongside with a team-leading 13 digs on top of five kills. Senior setter Bella D’Amico primarily set up the offense with 22 assists, and junior outside hitter Bianca Bertolino was also a weapon from the service line, sniping four aces.

How it Happened

Georgia Tech built up a lead early in set one, going on a four-point run capped by a pair of aces courtesy of freshman right-side hitter Larissa Mendes for a 9-3 advantage. The Yellow Jackets continued to roll until a five-point burst put the set out of reach at 24-15. Tech took the final point soon after for a 25-17 first-set victory.

The White and Gold took the first four in set two and later firmed up control by claiming 13 points in 15 chances, catapulting up to a 21-7 lead. The Jackets would close out the second set with on top by double digits, 25-13.

Tech jumped in front in set three with a five-point stretch thanks to a pair of Bertolino aces, leading 5-2 in the early goings. The Yellow Jackets steadily built on their lead as a four-point run increased the lead to 17-8. Georgia Tech would cruise from there, finishing off the third set with another double-digit triumph, 25-13, for the fifth match sweep on the year.

Up Next

Georgia Tech will wrap up competition in its Georgia Tech Classic, hosting San Diego on Sunday at 1 p.m. in O’Keefe Gymnasium.

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