Georgia Tech Downs Virginia 3-0
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia (11-16, 3-11 ACC) was unable to keep its momentum rolling against a strong Georgia Tech (17-8, 10-4 ACC) team as the Yellow Jackets earned a 25-14, 25-20, 25-23 sweep on Sunday (Nov. 10) in Memorial Gymnasium.
Freshman Jayna Francis (Virginia Beach, Va.) and junior Sarah Billiard (Matthews, N.C.) co-led the Cavaliers with 10 kills apiece. Senior Jelena Novakovic (Belgrade, Serbia) added another eight terminations while hitting a team-high .400.
Georgia Tech was paced by 12 kills from Mariana Brambilla. Mikaila Dowd chipped in another 10 for the Yellow Jackets.
SET 1: GT 25-14
A slow start offensively put Virginia in a big hole to open the match. The Cavaliers did not record their first kill until the score was 14-8 in the frame. The Cavaliers hit just .105 in the first set.
Georgia Tech built its lead behind two kills from Brambilla and a kill and ace from Dowd. The Yellow Jackets kept the pressure on, extending their advantage to 10 at 21-11. Julia Bergmann led Georgia Tech with four kills to take the opening set.
SET 2: GT 25-20
Virginia bounced back on the offensive end in the second set, hitting .393 as a team. Novakovic floored five kills on six swings to jumpstart the Virginia attack. The Yellow Jackets once again built a comfortable lead by the middle points as Brambilla notched a kill and ace to make it 16-10.
Virginia used a pair of late runs to close within 24-20 and force a Yellow Jacket timeout on a Novakovic kill. After the timeout, Georgia Tech setter Matti McKissock closed the set with one of her three kills on the day.
SET 3: GT 25-23
In the final set, Virginia raced to a 9-5 lead on three straight kills from Francis. The Cavaliers held an edge until the Yellow Jackets drew level at 14-all. A 5-1 burst from Georgia Tech flipped the set as Kodie Comby gave the visitors a 19-16 lead with a kill.
Virginia continued to scrap, pulling back within a single point at 23-22, but a service error closed the match and handed Georgia Tech a sweep.
QUICK HITS
• Francis has produced double-digit kills in three consecutive matches for the first time as a Cavalier.
• Jennifer Wineholt (San Diego, Calif.) led Virginia with 18 assists.
• Middle blockers Milla Ciprian (St. John’s, Fla.) and Mattison Matthews (Charleston, Va.) each hit .333 and had a pair of blocks in the match.
UP NEXT
Virginia hits the road to take on Wake Forest and Clemson next weekend in ACC play.