LEXINGTON, Ky. – Georgia Tech volleyball (11-1, 2-0 ACC) has been ranked No. 11 in the week five AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Women’s Poll, the organization announced on Monday. The White and Gold’s 11-spot ties the eighth highest ranking in program history alongside the squads from 2003 and 2022.
Jumping two spots, the Yellow Jackets slid up after opening ACC play 2-0 with 3-1 victories over Clemson and NC State.
Reappearing in the top 25 for the first time since 2005 at No. 12 on Sept. 30, 2020, Tech has since been listed in 60 straight top 25 polls to date. The Yellow Jackets reached as high as No. 5 during that stretch for two consecutive weeks from Aug. 29 – Sept. 5 a season ago, the highest ranking for the White and Gold since 2003 and the second-best mark all time.
Tech is one of three ACC teams inside the top 15. Having bested formerly No. 8 Penn State and previous No. 12 Ohio State twice, the Jackets are slated to face two more opponents currently ranked in the top 10 this season in No. 5 Louisville and No. 8 Pitt. Each of the aforementioned teams reached the NCAA Tournament in 2022, highlighted by national title contenders Louisville and Final Four foe Pitt. Previously topped Penn State (Sweet 16) and Ohio State (Elite Eight) also made deep runs in the 2022 postseason.
From the preseason to week one, the White and Gold had made the largest improvement of teams in the preseason poll, rising nine spots to No. 11 from their initial rank of No. 20. Tech has reached as high as No. 10 this season, currently sitting one spot outside the top 10.
The Yellow Jackets enter the sixth week of the season amongst the top three in the ACC and top 25 in the NCAA in four major categories – second in the league and fourth in the nation in opponent hitting percentage (.133), second in the conference and 10th in the country in kills per set (14.19), leading the league and 18th in the nation in digs per set (16.64) and third in the ACC and 21st in the NCAA in assists per set (12.88).
Individually, junior outside hitter Bianca Bertolino has been a weapon from the service line, leading in the league and placing fifth in the nation in aces per set (0.64) with 27 on the season. Senior libero Paola Pimentel has been all over the floor, ranking third the conference in digs per set (4.67) with 196 this year. Also owning top-five marks amongst the ACC for the Jackets are freshman right side hitter Larissa Mendes with 4.04 points per set (4th ACC) and…
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