Bulldogs Earn Four-Set Victory at Auburn

Sunday, October 20

Auburn, Ala.

1 p.m.

University of Georgia

14-5,4-3SEC

Auburn

6-12,4-3SEC

Georgia

Auburn

Photo by: Lauren Tolbert

October 20, 2019 | Volleyball

Box Score

AUBURN, Ala. – The University of Georgia women's volleyball team defeated the Auburn Tigers Sunday afternoon in four sets (27-25, 25-15, 24-26, 25-17) at Auburn Arena.

Georgia (14-4) lengthens its winning streak to five matches and climbs to 6-1 in Southeastern Conference play. Georgia last won five-straight conference matches in 2008 when the Bulldogs won six-straight.

"We saw some good but still have a lot to work on," head coach Tom Black remarked. "We gave up the lead in the third set and were kind of on our heels after that. Our serving picked up and Mallory Hernandez gave us a nice offensive boost. I thought Rachel Ritchie was really solid for us the whole time offensively. We had a great defensive effort and Claire Rothenberger really led that for us. I'm glad we scrapped it out, we would've like to have played better but glad we got the win."

The Bulldog offense was led by 17 kills from junior Rachel Ritchie. Sophomore Kayla Rivera tallied 13 kills, one short of her career high, and junior Kianna Young contributed 12.

Defensively, four reached the double-digit dig mark led by 22 from junior libero Kendall Glover. Sophomore Claire Rothenberger put up a season-high 15 while senior setter Meghan Donovan added 14. Freshman Kacie Evans tallied a season-best 13 to accompany her eight kills.

Georgia's 87 digs are the most in a four-set match in rally scoring history. The last time Georgia had 75 or more digs was at Auburn a season ago (Oct. 3, 2018).

Ahead 9-8 in the opening stanza, a 5-1 run for the Bulldogs opened a five-point lead. The Tigers began to narrow the Bulldogs' lead as a battle for the first set ensured. Auburn tied the set at 23, prompting Georgia's second timeout. As the Bulldogs drew set point, the Tigers would tie it up. Tied at 25, a kill from Young once again gave Georgia the advantage. Rothenberger's first career kill sealed the first set for Georgia, 27-25. Evans led the offensive charge with six kills to begin the match.

Knotted up at 4-4 in the second set, a 5-0 Georgia run, highlighted by a pair of aces from Donovan put the Bulldogs ahead 9-4. Georgia rolled to a set two win, 25-15, capped by a 7-1 scoring run by the Bulldogs. Rivera tallied six kills in the set to move into the team lead with eight. Georgia hit .393 as a team.

After starting the set down 4-1, Georgia worked to keep pace with the Tigers and used a six-point run to find a 12-9 lead in the third. Auburn responded 5-0 run to retie the set at 15 all. Down 22-19, Georgia once again worked to tie it up at 22. Knotted at 24, Auburn won the frame 26-24 to stay alive in the match.

It was all Georgia in the fourth set as the Dawgs won the frame 25-17 to secure the match. Nine of Ritchie's 17 total kill came in the final set.

Up next, Georgia hosts Ole Miss Wednesday night at Stegeman Coliseum. First serve against the Rebels is set for 9 p.m. and will air nationally on ESPNU.