THE FLATS — No. 13 Georgia Tech volleyball raced out to a 2-0 lead over No. 5 Louisville before ultimately falling 3-2 (17-25, 17-25, 25-14, 25-19, 15-11) on Senior Night on Friday in O’Keefe Gymnasium. The Yellow Jackets dominated the first pair of sets, but were unable rekindle the flame in the final three sets of their second consecutive five setter this season.
Senior outside hitter Julia Bergmann led the way for the White and Gold as per usual, amassing 25 kills along with seven digs and five blocks, resulting in her fifth match of 25 or more kills on the year. Junior setter Bella D’Amico set up the attack, narrowly missing a double double and a career high with 46 assists and nine digs. Others on the receiving end included junior right-side hitter Tamara Otene with 10 kills and seven digs as well as graduate middle blocker Breland Morrissette with eight kills at a .375 clip on top of four blocks. Sophomore outside hitter Bianca Bertolino anchored the defense with a career-high 24 digs.
How it Happened
Riding high following Senior Night celebrations, Georgia Tech (18-6, 11-4 ACC) burst out of the gates, taking four points in five chances to work up to a 10-6 lead. Louisville (23-2, 14-1 ACC) clawed back within a pair trailing 13-11, but the White and Gold answered by snatching five of the next six points to pull further ahead, 18-12. The Yellow Jackets maintained control from there, closing the set by claiming five of the final six points to secure a 25-17 victory in set one.
Tech once again steadily moved ahead early in the second set out to a 10-6 lead, and shortly after used a four-point burst courtesy of Bergmann and senior middle blocker Erin Moss to extend the lead to 15-8. The Cardinals would battle back within three to trail 20-17, but the Jackets slammed the door by winning the final five points as Otene put an exclamation point on the 25-17 triumph in set two with a kill.
As the White and Gold needed one more set victory for a sweep, the match was delayed early in the third set due to a court issue. From there, Louisville bounced back using a five-point run to slip ahead, 11-5. Georgia Tech would draw back within three to trail 12-9 after taking four points in a five-chance span, but the Cardinals pulled back away. Louisville would go on to take seven of the last eight points for a 25-14 win in set three.
The fourth set went back and forth early as neither side created separation up to a 9 all draw, but the Cardinals pulled off eight…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Volleyball – Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets…