University of Georgia
Alabama
Georgia Drops 3-0 Decision to Alabama
November 16, 2014 | Volleyball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Georgia volleyball team fell 3-0 (13-25, 15-25, 21-25) to the Alabama Crimson Tide on Sunday, Nov. 16 at Foster Auditorium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Georgia is now 12-15 on the year and 4-11 in the Southeastern Conference. Alabama improved to 22-6 on the year and 10-4 in league play.
"We struggled to find any rhythm today," Head Coach Lizzy Stemke said. "Our serve and pass game was shaky and our swings were tentative. Alabama kept great pressure on us for three solid sets and were the better team today."
Lauren Teknipp led Georgia's offense with seven kills, followed by Desiree McCray with five. Kaylee Kehoe paced the offensive effort with 15 assists. Gaby Smiley earned a team-best 12 digs, while Jasmine Eatmon recorded three blocks to lead the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs got off to a slow start in the first set and used their first timeout with the Crimson Tide holding a 10-4 lead. An Alabama service error sparked a 3-0 run by the Bulldogs that cut into the Crimson Tide's lead at 16-9. Alabama then scored four of the next five points that made it a 20-10 set and forced Georgia to use its final timeout. Georgia got three more points before Alabama got a pair of service aces to seal the 25-13 set one win.
Georgia looked to regroup in the second set, staying within striking distance in the early goings. With the score tied at 6-6, Alabama scored six-straight points to take a 12-6 lead before an Eatmon block ended the run. After Georgia timeout at the 17-8 mark, the Bulldogs got back-to-back kills from Teknipp and Tirah Le'au that cut the lead to 17-10. The Crimson Tide kept the pressure on, taking a 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-15 set two win.
The score remained tight over the opening possessions of the third set. With Alabama holding a 6-4 advantage, it went on 4-0 run that made it a 10-4 set. A kill by Amanda Dachs helped Georgia get three-straight points that brought it within three at 10-7. After Georgia called a timeout at the 21-14 mark, it got kills by Dachs and McCray and an Alabama error that helped it cut the lead to 21-17.With the Tide holding match point at 24-18, Georgia scored the next three points, but it was not enough as Alabama clinched the match with a 25-21 win in set three.
The Bulldogs close out their home SEC schedule next weekend when it welcomes Mississippi State and South Carolina to the Ramsey Center in Athens, Ga. Georgia and Mississippi State will face one another on Friday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m., on the SEC Network before taking on South Carolina at 1:30 p.m., on Sunday, Nov. 23. That match will be available on the SEC Network+.
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