Bertolino, Otene Named All-Region – Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

THE FLATS – Two Yellow Jackets from the No. 5-seeded Georgia Tech volleyball team (24-6, 13-5 ACC) were awarded East Coast All-Region distinction, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced Tuesday. Junior outside hitter Bianca Bertolino and senior outside hitter Tamara Otene were each named to the 1^st Team East Coast All-Region team, marking the second career honors for both and Otene’s first as a Jacket.

This marks the fifth season in a row, since 2019, that Georgia Tech will have multiple representatives on AVCA all-region team, the longest streak in program history. It is the first time Bertolino has been named to the first team after earning honorable mention last season (2022). It is the first All-Region award for Otene since transferring into the program ahead of last season, she was named 1^st Team All-North Region while at Illinois State, in 2021.

These All-Region distinctions allow for both Bertolino and Otene to advance to the final round of All-American consideration. As one of the 14 best players in the East Coast region, according to voting done by coaches in the region, Bertolino and Otene have qualified for the shortlist of players from which All-American teams will be selected from, next week. All-America teams (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and honorable mention) will be announced on Wednesday, Dec. 13.

Bertolino and Otene have been a considerable force for the Jackets all season, as each player has made over 300 kills and 300 digs. Bertolino (343 kills / 311 digs) and Otene (397 kills / 327 digs) are the first Yellow Jacket duo to achieve such numbers in the same season 2015 (Teegan Van Gunst and Annika (Rowland) Van Gunst).

Bianca Bertolino | Jr. | OH | San Guillermo-Santa Fe, Argentina

Bianca Bertolino has been the catalyst for Georgia Tech all season, positively affecting each point in a variety of ways. She is the only Power 5 pin hitter to finish the season with 300+ kills, 300+ digs and 60+ aces all while posting an incredible .974 receiving percentage as a primary passer in serve/receive. She was named ACC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 23 and leads the ACC with 62 aces (.55/set). She finished the regular season leading all Power 5 pin-hitters in aces and 5th overall in Division I in aces/set. She made 7 aces in Georgia Tech’s four-set win over Louisville, the second most aces in a single match by a Power 5 player this season and the most in an ACC match since 2017. She becomes the 16^th Yellow Jacket in program…