PITTSBURGH — In one of the most highly contested battles across the nation this season, No. 13 Georgia Tech volleyball was upended late by No. 7 Pitt (25-21, 22-25, 23-25, 25-22, 19-17) despite the world-class efforts from graduate middle blocker Breland Morrissette on Wednesday night in the Petersen Events Center.
After dropping the first set, the Yellow Jackets swarmed back to take the next two sets, coming within four points of victory in the fourth set. In the fifth set, the White and Gold drew within two points of triumph for five late, tie score lines as extra points were needed to declare a winner in the top-15 contest.
Morrissette stepped up to lead the way throughout the match, obliterating her previous career high of 11 kills with 20 on the night at a staggering .581 clip on top of two aces. The Birmingham, Ala., native not only shined offensively, but had a career night on defense, racking up a personal-best nine blocks (three solo, six assisted). Senior outside hitter Julia Bergmann stuffed the stat sheet as per usual with 25 kills and 18 digs, moving to exactly 500 kills on the season while adding her 12th 20+ kill match and 11th double double this season.
Setting up Tech’s vaunted attack was junior setter Bella D’Amico, who also shattered a pair of previous career bests, eclipsing her recent 49 assists by piling up 61 assists and topping her last top mark of three blocks with six on the night. Sophomore outside hitter Bianca Bertolino was also a key contributor, compiling 12 kills on a .440 hitting percentage, a pair of aces and tying her personal record of 24 digs.
As a unit, the Jackets topped the Panthers in most categories on paper through the night, holding advantages in kills (78-71), hitting percentage (.268-.257), digs (77-69) and blocks (16-12).
How it Happened
Georgia Tech (19-7, 12-5 ACC) led early and often in the first set, jumping on top 7-4 out of the gate and taking five points in six chances soon after to push further in front, 14-9. The Yellow Jackets refrained from trailing up to an 18-17 advantage, but the Panthers roared back with a decisive, six-point run to slip ahead 23-18 and come away with the eventual 25-21 win in set one.
After the White and Gold opened the second set by claiming the first two points, neither side managed to separate by more than three throughout the set. As the set wore on, the Jackets took four points in a stretch of five opportunities to even things up at 12 all, but Pitt (26-3, 16-1 ACC)…
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