WINSTON-SALEM, N.C — No. 11 Georgia Tech volleyball (13-1, 4-0 ACC) won its first five-set affair of the season over Wake Forest (11-4, 2-2 ACC) on Sunday afternoon in Reynolds Gymnasium. A standout performance from junior outside hitter Bianca Bertolino and surgical execution from the service line propelled the Yellow Jackets to victory, coming out on top, 3-2 (25-22, 22-25, 25-22, 21-25, 15-12). The triumph maintained their third hottest start in program history, trailing just the 2003 (23-0) and 1996 (16-0) White and Gold.
Bertolino carried the Jackets in both phases, leading the squad with a career-high 22 kills at a .352 clip, four aces, a career-best tying four blocks (three solo, one assisted) and 14 digs. The Argentinian’s effort resulted in her fourth double double of the season.
Three donning the White and Gold played a key role in Tech’s defensive success as they each had five or more blocks. Sophomore middle blocker Anna Boezi exploded for a career-high eight blocks, freshman right side hitter Larissa Mendes tallied a personal best six blocks and junior middle blocker DeAndra Pierce tied her career mark of five blocks (two solo, three assisted). Mendes also pitched in nine kills, while a pair of seniors pitched in double-digit digs in outside hitter Tamara Otene (12 digs, seven kills) and libero Paola Pimentel (13 digs).
For the first time in her career, freshman setter Heloise Soares took the reins as primary setter with personal bests across the board in assists (34), digs (eight) and blocks (two), plus an ace. Fellow freshman setter Deren Cukur also spent some time at the helm, earning career highs of four assists and two digs on top of an ace. Joining the slew of career performances was junior outside hitter Leia Harper, tying her top mark of seven kills at a .333 clip.
Tech separated itself from Wake Forest from the service line and at the net with stark advantages in aces (11-3) and blocks (17-12).
How it Happened
After a pair of early streaks as Georgia Tech used a five-point run to move in front, 6-4, the first set went back and forth. Wake Forest would take the lead, moving ahead by as much as four at 15-11, but a pair of three-point bursts later pushed the White and Gold back in front, 19-18. The Yellow Jackets would ultimately rally, taking four of the final five points as a Bertolino kill secured a 25-22 set one win.
The second set remained nip and tuck as neither side managed to separate until the Demon Deacons strung…
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