Volleyball Splits Opening Series with Georgia Tech
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Miami volleyball splits its opening series against Georgia Tech after its 3-2 loss on Friday night.
Despite redshirt senior Elizaveta Lukianova recording a career-high 28 kills, which is tied for the seventh most kills in a single match, Miami dropped its first match of the 2020 season. Sophomore setter Savannah Vach also boasted a new career-high with 59 assists, which is tied for the ninth-most in a single match in school history.
Miami outlasted Georgia Tech in the first despite both teams hitting below .200. Lukianova led both teams in kills after one, with five and added three blocks, dominating on both sides of the net for the second night in a row. Janice Leao got involved early recording three blocks and three kills.
Taking seven of the last 10 points, Miami took the 1-0 lead for the second-straight time against Georgia Tech.
A late six-point rally in the second set allowed Georgia Tech to tie the match, 1-1. Lukianova, again, led both teams in kills totaling four, but the Yellow Jacket’s offense combined for 13 and an attack percentage of .393. The Yellow Jackets took eight of the final 10 points of the set, holding Miami to hit .139, its lowest set of the night.
Miami recorded 15 kills in the third led by Lukianova’s seven kills, while six different Canes recorded a block. Georgia Tech was limited to just 11 kills and a .086 hitting percentage.
Leao and Angela Grieve each added three kills and Vach added 14 assists, helping the Canes take the 2-1 advantage with a 25-20 set win.
Georgia Tech tied the match again forcing a fifth set with a 25-23 set win. The away side hit a staggering .400, but both teams each recorded 18 kills. Lukianova added eight more kills, while Grieve added six and Leao and freshman Lauren Tarnoff each added two.
Georgia Tech won its first match of the season taking three of the final five points of the fifth set, winning 15-11.
Miami travels to Winston-Salem, N.C. to face Wake Forest for two matches on Oct. 2 and Oct. 3.
