No. 5 Tech Edged by No. 8 Ohio State – Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

THE FLATS – No. 5 Georgia Tech volleyball (6-1) was handed its first loss of the season by No. 8 Ohio State (3-3), falling 3-1 (25-19, 20-25, 25-21, 25-23) in its second consecutive top-10 matchup on Sunday in O’Keefe Gymnasium. The White and Gold controlled set two on the way to victory and built up an 18-13 lead in set three, but were unable to clinch and push the match to a fifth set.

Getting off to their best start since 2018 at 6-0 coming into the contest, the Yellow Jackets still matched the Buckeyes in assists (49), digs (58) and aces (3) while owning the advantage in blocks (10-8) in their first defeat.

Senior outside hitter Julia Bergmann led the way for the White and Gold once more, piling up 20+ kills for the second straight match and fourth time on the year. Overall, the vaunted outside hitter tallied 21 kills and a pair of digs. Sophomore outside hitter Bianca Bertolino followed Bergmann with her first double double of the year, picking up 11 kills and 14 digs.

Junior setter Bella D’Amico ran point for the Jackets, totaling 38 assists and 13 digs for her second double double this season. Defensively, senior middle blockers Erin Moss and Breland Morrissette combined for nine total blocks as Moss also hammered home nine kills to go with Morrissette’s four.

How it Happened

Ohio State gained momentum early in set one, using a pair of six-point runs to jump ahead, 15-7. The Buckeyes would roll on, maintaining their distance despite a couple of three-point bursts from Tech. Ending the Jackets’ final push, Ohio State claimed a 25-19 win in the first set.

Georgia Tech flipped the script in set two, taking the early advantage with a five-point stretch to move ahead, 7-3. Two more three-point runs by the Yellow Jackets capped by an ace from junior outside hitter Tamara Otene propelled Tech further in front, 16-11. The White and Gold would extend the lead to as much as seven with a 21-14 advantage, keeping the Buckeyes behind by four or more the rest of the way for a 25-20 second-set win.

The Buckeyes came firing back in set three, taking 11 of 12 early points to pull ahead, 14-5. The Jackets would subsequently answer, taking eight of the next nine points to trim the lead to 15-13. Ohio State continued to tread forward, reaching match point at 24-18. Tech still battled, taking the next three points to draw within four, but the Buckeyes managed to add their final kill for a 25-21 third-set win.

With Ohio State a set away from an upset, both sides…