Bulldogs Record Two Sweeps Friday

Friday, August 31

Irvine, Calif.

3:30 p.m.

University of Georgia

4-0

Texas Tech

4-1

Georgia

Texas Tech

August 31, 2018 | Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Texas Tech Box Score UC Irvine Box Score

IRVINE, Calif. – Georgia volleyball (5-0) kept its perfect season alive Friday with a pair of sweeps to begin play at the UCI/Adidas Invitational. The action began with a sweep of Texas Tech (4-1) and concluded with a straight-sets victory over host UC Irvine (1-4).

"We're making improvements from last week," said head coach Tom Black. "We still have a long way to go but we're all committed to building each match to get there. I'm looking forward to seeing our team's response for tomorrow afternoon's match."

Georgia 3, Texas Tech 0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-14)
T'ara Ceasarled all hitters with 14 kills while Rachel Ritchiecontributed 11 with a .429 hitting percentage. Kendall Gloverrecorded seven service aces, a new career best, tying a Georgia rally scoring record for aces in a three-set match. Glover also led the defense with 22 digs. Anna Kate Karstensassisted on seven blocks with two aces of her own Friday evening.

Georgia hit .292 as a team, scoring 11 service aces with eight team blocks, both season highs.

Friday's match against Texas Tech took an hour and four minutes, nearly matching the mark for the fastest match in Georgia history which was against Furman in 2008 (one hour and one minute).

With Georgia leading by two points at 9-7 in the opening set, a 6-0 run by the Dawgs helped open a commanding lead on the Red Raiders. Down eight, 18-10, Texas Tech called its second and final timeout of the set. Out of the timeout, Glover hit three service aces in four serves to bring the Georgia lead to 12. The Dawgs wrapped up the opening set, 25-13, to lead 1-0 in the match.

Ritchie had three kills in the first set while four other Bulldogs all contributed two each. Glover had already tied a career best with four aces while Karstens had five blocks alone in the opening set.

Georgia fell behind early but quickly worked to capture a lead in the second set, 8-6. A 5-1 run quickly opened a 14-9 lead for the Bulldogs. Texas Tech pulled within three, 17-14, prompting a timeout from the Georgia sideline. Georgia was able to hold on to capture the set two win, 25-19, and a 2-0 lead.

Ceasar led the charge in the second set with five kills while freshman Mallory Hernandezhad four.

The Bulldogs opened the final set with five-straight points, including Glover's sixth and seventh aces. Georgia rolled to a 25-14 set three victory to complete the sweep of the Red Raiders.

Ceasar was responsible for seven of the team's 17 kills in the final frame.

Georgia 3, UC Irvine 0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-22)
Much like the earlier match, Ceasar led the Bulldogs in kills with 14 while Ritchie came in second with 11. Kianna Youngearned a season-high six kills. Claire Rothenbergerrecorded 13 total kills to lead the team.

The first set was hotly contested. UCI jumped out to an early lead that Georgia was able to chip away at, eventually tying the set at 11. Three-straight points, capped by an ace from Sydney Gilliam, opened a little lead for the Bulldogs. The Anteaters stayed close on Georgia's heels but the Bulldogs were able to secure the opening set win, 25-23. Ceasar led the way with five kills in the first set while Rithie was close behind with four.

Georgia quickly found a lead which it built on abruptly in the second set. With a three-point lead, 12-9, Georgia rattled off six-straight points to double up the Anteaters, 18-9, prompting UCI to take its second timeout of the set. UCI worked to narrow the Bulldog lead to three late in the set but Georgia fended off the advancing offense to win the set, 25-22.

Both teams went point-for-point much of the final set. All square at 14, Georgia won six of the next seven points to open a five-point lead. UCI pulled within two late at 23-21 but Georgia held on to pick up its second sweep of the day. Ceasar had six kills in the final set.

The Dawgs close play in Irvine Saturday against Cal State Bakersfield at 6 p.m., ET.