Georgia Tech Holds Off Virginia, 3-1

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia (8-19, 4-13 ACC) dropped a 25-17, 19-25, 25-20, 27-25 decision to Georgia Tech (17-12, 6-10 ACC) on Friday (Nov. 16) in Memorial Gymnasium.
 
Grace Turner (Cincinnati, Ohio) led the Cavaliers with 14 kills, followed by Sarah Billiard (Matthews, N.C.) with 12. Two Cavaliers, Kat Young (Chantilly, Va.) and Olivia Wolodkewitsch (Omaha, Neb.) were honored as part of Senior Day prior to the match. Young finished with a season-high eight blocks while Wolodkewitsch had five digs.
 
Georgia Tech rode the arm of outside hitter Mikaila Dowd, who powered the Yellow Jackets with 20 kills. Kodie Comby added another 10 kills for Georgia Tech.
 
SET 1: Georgia Tech 25, Virginia 17
Georgia Tech hit .448 as Dowd and Comby each had five kills. Virginia hit .333 in the set led by a trio of kills from Christine Jarman (Boynton Beach, Fla.) and Jelena Novakovic (Belgrade, Serbia).
 
The Cavaliers held an 11-8 lead in the frame, but a 5-0 Yellow Jacket run helped flip the set. Georgia Tech had four service aces, including back-to-back, to close the set.
 
SET 2: Virginia 25, Georgia Tech 19
Turned pounded seven kills to the floor as Virginia once again hit .333 in the set. Jarman added five, while the Cavalier block kicked into gear with six rejections. Young picked up three of her blocks in the set to hold Georgia Tech to just .091 hitting.
 
SET 3: Georgia Tech 25, Virginia 20
Georgia Tech clamped down defensively, holding the Cavaliers to just .036 hitting to retake the lead. Dowd floored six kills for the Yellow Jackets, who used runs of 4-0 and 4-1 to break open the frame.
 
SET 4: Georgia Tech 27, Virginia 25
The match seemed destined for a decisive fifth set as Virginia held set point at 24-21. Once again, it was Dowd who led Georgia Tech, recording a pair of kills and an ace to tie the set. After a Turner kill gave Virginia a 25-24 lead, the Yellow Jackets got three-straight points to claim a 3-1 lead.
 
QUICK HITS
• Virginia held a 5-2 lead in all four sets.
• Young’s eight blocks were one shy of her career high.
• Jarman’s 10 kills were the most for the transfer at Virginia.
• Jarman hit a career-best .304 (10-3-23).
• Georgia Tech recorded nine aces in the victory.

UP NEXT
Virginia closes the 2018 season with a road trip to Boston College. The Cavaliers will take on the Eagles on Wednesday, Nov. 21 at 2 p.m.