University of Georgia
Alabama
Gonzalez Leads Georgia Volleyball Past Alabama, 3-1
November 21, 2010 | Volleyball
Nov. 21, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Senior middle hitter Valentina Gonzalez established a new school record for career block assists and posted a team-best 15 kills to lead the University of Georgia volleyball team past Alabama, 3-1, on Sunday afternoon at the CAVE.
Alabama won the first set 25-22, but Georgia answered with three-straight set wins at 25-11, 25-22 and 25-22 to earn the victory and improve to 15-16 overall and 6-13 in Southeastern Conference action. Alabama falls to 10-19 overall and 2-17 in league play.
Gonzalez's 15 kills came on a .464 hitting percentage to lead the Bulldogs' .313 mark while the Crimson Tide where limited to a .195 clip as Gonzalez paced UGA with six blocks. Each of Gonzalez's blocks were assisted stops, which raised her career block assist total to 417 to establish a new school record in the category surpassing the previous record of 413 by Lital Sisso.
"Ann and Valentina were huge for us this afternoon both offensively and defensively," Interim head coach Chad Hanson said. "Our serving was an important part to keeping as much pressure as possible on Alabama's system. Allison Summers in particular had a wonderful day with eight aces."
Supporting Gonzalez, junior setter Kathleen Gates dished out 45 assists as freshman outside hitter Brittany Northcutt added 13 kills and junior middle hitter Ann Dylla contributed 12 kills on a .647 clip. Narrowly missing a double-double, freshman Kathleen Luft added nine kills and a team-best 12 digs. Senior Simone May, a native of Guntersville, Ala., also had a strong performance in her final collegiate match in her home state by notching eight kills and four digs.
"We are most pleased with the overall focus throughout the match of playing one point at a time and pursuing every opportunity to its fullest," Hanson added. "It's great for the reward of that pursuit to be this win!"
Alabama was led in the match by Kayla Fitterer's 19 kills, Kelsey Anderson's 11 digs and Calli Johnson's six blocks.
Georgia will conclude its 2010 season on Wednesday at the Ramsey Student Center against Auburn. First serve between the Bulldogs and Tigers is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
