THE FLATS — No. 11 Georgia Tech volleyball (7-1) drew a program record crowd of 5,303 in the second ever match in McCamish Pavilion as the White and Gold were handed their first loss of the season by Georgia (8-2) in four sets, 3-1 (21-25, 28-26, 25-21, 25-21) on Friday.
The Yellow Jackets pulled away late in the first set to open on top before dropping a heartbreaking second set in extra points, leading to the Bulldogs taking the final two sets.
Tech was fronted by senior outside hitter Tamara Otene all-around with team-highs of 13 kills and 15 digs for her fifth double of the year. Graduate middle blocker Afedo Manyang was the most efficient Jacket attacker as she did some damage on the outside and tallied six kills at an .857 clip. Senior setter Bella D’Amico picked up a double double of her own as she totaled 29 assists and 12 digs for her fourth this season. Sophomore middle blocker Liv Mogridge topped the squad in blocks, stuffing five attempts (one solo, four assisted).
How it Happened
Georgia Tech roared in front behind the home crowd early in the first set, taking the first four points of the match. Although Georgia worked its way back and kept things neck-and-neck up to a 17-all draw, the Yellow Jackets separated with another four-point run and cruised onto a 25-21 set-one victory.
The second set swung back and forth as Tech climbed in front 8-4 early, but the Bulldogs bounced back to flip the score for an 11-8 advantage. Georgia continued to work in front up to a 19-13 lead until the White and Gold rallied with six straight to even things at 19 apiece. The Yellow Jackets would claim five of the next seven points to reach match point at a 24-21 score line thanks in large part to blocks from Mogridge, but the Bulldogs fought all the way back to take the advantage, up 25-24. Tech would even things at 25 and 26, but Georgia outlasted the Jackets for a 28-26 set-two win to even the match.
Georgia continued to roll early, jumping ahead 7-1, but Georgia Tech drew back within a point after a flurry from Otene, trailing 9-8. The Bulldogs would hang onto the lead until the Yellow Jackets knotted the score at 16 all and 17 apiece, but the Bulldogs kept the pressure on and grinded out a 25-21 set-three win.
The fourth set mirrored the third with the visitors moving ahead early before the home squad drew near, but again the two sides continued to battle into double digits with Georgia owning the narrow edge. The match remained tight up to a 20-19…
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