Hurricanes Fall to Georgia Tech in Five Game Heartbreaker
Oct. 2, 2005
CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team fell to Atlantic Coast Conference foe Georgia Tech in a 3-2 (35-37, 30-27, 30-11, 30-32, 9-15) heartbreaker Sunday afternoon at the Knight Sports Complex.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The Hurricanes, who fell to 7-5 overall and 2-2 in the ACC, had not lost a five-game match in their three previous tries this season. Georgia Tech improves to 6-6 overall and 3-1 in ACC play.
Senior Karla Johnson led all players with 22 kills. She also tallied 17 digs for her sixth double-double of the season.
Despite the tough loss, the Hurricanes had five players turn in personal-best performances. Redshirt-junior Francheska Savage knocked down a career-high 19 kills while redshirt-sophomore Ciara Michel registered a career-best 18 kills. Junior Ann Gallo matched a career-high when she recorded three service aces to lead all players. Sophomore Michelle Bruin tallied a personal-best 19 digs while redshirt freshman Ashley Woods went 8-of-12 for a career-high .583 hitting percentage. Junior Jill Robinson posted a career-best three solo blocks to lead all players. She also dished out a match-high 65 assists.
The Hurricanes led the Yellow Jackets in hitting percentage (.230), kills (73), digs (66) and total blocks (15.0).
The Yellow Jackets were led by Ulrike Stegemann’s 20 kills and Nikki Kaminskas’ 10 total blocks (1BA, 9BA).
Game one was a battle of the fittest as both teams fought toe-to-toe throughout the latter part of the lengthy game. Georgia Tech took an early 12-7 lead, capitalizing on five Miami attacking errors, but the Hurricanes tied the score at 13-all after a Robinson kill. A point-for-point clash ensued as the games 18 tied scores and seven lead changes indicated. The Hurricanes then took a 28-24 lead but the Jackets fought back with a 7-2 run that gave them a 31-30 advantage. Georgia Tech could not convert on five game points, however, as the Hurricanes, off the strength of three Sara Duncan kills, continued to tie the score. A Savage kill then gave the Hurricanes a 35-34 lead but they could not fend off the Jackets who took advantage of two Miami attacking errors and knocked down a kill to take a 37-35 victory.
Georgia Tech once again jumped to an early lead in game two. With the score 16-11 in the Jackets favor, the Hurricanes tied the score at 17-all. Using a 6-2 run, Miami built a 24-20 lead that gave them the lead for good and a 30-27 win.
Game three was all Miami as the Hurricanes hit .440 and led by as many as 19 points en route to a 30-11 victory. During the game, the Hurricanes forced seven Georgia Tech attacking errors and allowed only six kills for a -.033 hitting percentage. From the service line, the Hurricanes registered five service aces with Gallo and Robinson each contributing two.
The Hurricanes led by as many as four points early in game four before the Yellow Jackets steadily climbed back to tie the score at 16-all. Georgia Tech then took the lead after two Miami errors. The Jackets pulled away with a 24-18 lead before the Hurricanes fought back with seven-straight points, including two Johnson kills, to take a 26-24 lead. The Hurricanes were at match-point on two occasions but they could not capitalize as the Jackets knocked down two kills and a service ace to take the 32-30 win to force a fifth and deciding game.
Miami got on the board first in game five, taking a 3-2 lead but the Jackets tied the score at 5-all before taking the lead the for good after a Callie Miller kill. Georgia Tech eventually won the game, 15-9, for the match victory.
Miami returns to action with a three-match road swing that begins at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 7th at NC State. The following day, the Hurricanes will take on North Carolina at 3:00 p.m. Miami will then travel to instate rival FloridaState Tuesday, October 11th for a 7:00 p.m. match-up. The match against the Seminoles will be broadcast LIVE on Sun Sports.
