Jackets Fall Short at No. 4 Louisville – Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

LOUISVILLE – No. 19 Georgia Tech volleyball (9-4, 1-3 ACC) couldn’t overcome No. 4 Louisville (12-2, 4-0 ACC) on Sunday afternoon, dropping a three-set contest: 20-25, 16-25, 25-27 from inside L&N Federal Credit Union Arena. The Yellow Jackets had a difficult time establishing consistent offense around Louisville’s block, giving up a late lead in the third set to suffer its first road loss of 2024.

QUICK HITS

• This was Georgia Tech’s first loss away from home this season, dropping its record to 4-1.
• Junior libero Sofia Velez made 14 digs today. She finishes the weekend with a team-high 30 digs and has now made 10+ digs in all but four of her 92 career matches in college.
• Senior middle blocker DeAndra Pierce made three blocks over two sets of action. The 1.5 blocks/set is her second highest output of the season after making five blocks in a sweep over Coastal Carolina earlier this year (Sept. 2).
• Sophomore right side Larissa Mendes also contributed three blocks. The 1.00 blocks/set is a new season high.
• Senior outside hitter Bianca Bertolino added an ace in the third set to bring her career total to 142, just one shy of tying Margaret Gales (1986-89) for the seventh most aces in program history.

SET BY SET

Set 1 (GT 20 – LOU 25)

Both teams came to play, starting off with efficient and balanced offenses as neither side led by more than one point through the first 20 points (10-10). The Louisville block came alive in the middle of the set, using three blocks to go on a 9-1 scoring run and taking a commanding 19-11 lead. The Jackets battled back, going on a 6-1 run to cut the lead to just three points (22-19). It appeared GT had cut the lead to two, but a replay review overturned a touch call, giving Louisville a 23-19 lead, which it would hold onto for a five-point victory.

Set 2 (GT 16- LOU 25)

The Cards kept up the intensity at the net to start the second, scoring three blocks early on to jump out to a 6-1 lead. The Jackets kept up the fight but struggled to find a consistent offensive effort, falling behind 14-5 and eventually dropping the set, 25-16.

Set 3 (GT 25 – LOU 27)

Tech upped its level on the service line to start the third, with aces from Luanna Emiliano and Tamara Otene to get the Jackets in front, 6-2, forcing an early timeout from Louisville. The Jackets maintained their high level serving throughout the middle portion of the set, adding another ace from Bertolino to make it 19-14. Tech led late, up 22-17, but a Louisville scoring run…