Sunday, October 6
Athens, Ga.
2 p.m.
University of Georgia
11-4
3
vs
0
Alabama
10-5
1
2
3
F
Alabama
22
23
23
0
Georgia
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Tony Walsh
Bulldogs Sweep Crimson Tide Sunday
October 06, 2019 | Volleyball
ATHENS, Ga. – The University of Georgia women's volleyball team concluded its weekend at Stegeman Coliseum with a three-set sweep of Alabama Sunday afternoon (25-22, 25-23, 25-23).
Georgia (11-4, 3-1) was led by a season-high 23 kills from junior Rachel Ritchie. Her 23 kills are a program-best rally scoring record for kills in a three-set match. Her .568 hitting percentage (2 errors, 37 attempts) was a career best for the junior outside hitter.
Hot off her first double-double on Friday evening against Tennessee, freshman Kacie Evans followed it up with another double-double Sunday, recording 15 kills and 11 digs. Senior setter Meghan Donovan also picked up a double-double with 47 assists and 15 digs. Her 47 assists tie the most in three sets in rally scoring history.
Defensively, junior libero Kendall Glover put up a season-best 22 digs. On the net, sophomore Sage Naves and Donovan each had three blocks.
The Bulldogs opened the first set with a decent lead, but Alabama (10-5, 2-2) worked to narrow the deficit and pull within a couple of Georgia, 16-14. The Tide tied the set and overtook the lead, 19-18. The teams proceeded to go back and forth. Down 21-20, Georgia used four-straight to draw set point then secure the opening frame, 25-22. Three-straight kills by Ritchie at the end of the set locked up it up for the Bulldogs, finishing with six in the frame.
Tied at 3-3 early in the second set, Alabama rattled off eight-straight points to take an 11-3 lead. Georgia immediately responded by winning four of the next five rallies to cut the lead to five, 12-7. A 6-1 run a little later narrowed the deficit to one, 14-13. Five-straight points from Alabama opened the lead back up but Georgia responded with six-straight to take a 19-18 lead. Once again, the teams went toe-to-toe late. Down 23-22, Ritchie picked up three-straight kills to take the set, 25-23. Ritchie added eight kills on 10 attempts in the set and entered set three with 14 kills while Evans had 10 to her name.
Coming off a strong finish in set two, Georgia opened the third set on an 8-0 run, fueled by six kills from Ritchie in the run. Down by ten, 20-10, Alabama used a 6-1 run to cut the lead to five, 21-16. With Georgia up 23-16, Alabama rattled off another six-straight to cut the lead to one. Georgia was able to keep the Tide at bay, wrapping the third set 25-23 and the match in three sets. After eight in set two, Ritchie tacked on nine more kills in set three.
The Bulldogs return to action on Friday at #15 Kentucky. The Bulldogs and Wildcats are set to begin at 7 p.m. from Lexington. Georgia returns home next Sunday at 2 p.m. to host LSU.
Head Coach Tom Black
On what went well for the Bulldogs…
"There was some good volleyball and some bad volleyball. But I'm glad that we had some good stretches of volleyball. Rachel Ritchie was a stud today even though we had, what seemed like a million hitting errors in a row, we found a way to show some toughness."
On coming back…
"We got stuck in a rotation and that gave them a hug lead. We showed a lot of toughness and didn't let it affect our game. We took it point-by-point and we learned that this team will fight for sure. We just need to grow and keep building off of it."
Junior outside hitter Rachel Ritchie
On what went well…
"I think my connection with Meghan (Donovan) and the passers was really key tonight. I trusted them to get the pass up and we all just knew that we had each other's back and really just ran with it."
On the second set…
"I think we came in with a fire and knew that we don't play like that. We knew we needed to change something right then and there. It took some time but that really showed the trust we have in each other and the fire that we play with."
Senior setter Meghan Donovan
On the weekend...
"Yeah it was nice to be back home for two games in a row. I think the crowd helped us. They were really good wins, good SEC teams. Overall, it was a good weekend."
Georgia (11-4, 3-1) was led by a season-high 23 kills from junior Rachel Ritchie. Her 23 kills are a program-best rally scoring record for kills in a three-set match. Her .568 hitting percentage (2 errors, 37 attempts) was a career best for the junior outside hitter.
Hot off her first double-double on Friday evening against Tennessee, freshman Kacie Evans followed it up with another double-double Sunday, recording 15 kills and 11 digs. Senior setter Meghan Donovan also picked up a double-double with 47 assists and 15 digs. Her 47 assists tie the most in three sets in rally scoring history.
Defensively, junior libero Kendall Glover put up a season-best 22 digs. On the net, sophomore Sage Naves and Donovan each had three blocks.
The Bulldogs opened the first set with a decent lead, but Alabama (10-5, 2-2) worked to narrow the deficit and pull within a couple of Georgia, 16-14. The Tide tied the set and overtook the lead, 19-18. The teams proceeded to go back and forth. Down 21-20, Georgia used four-straight to draw set point then secure the opening frame, 25-22. Three-straight kills by Ritchie at the end of the set locked up it up for the Bulldogs, finishing with six in the frame.
Tied at 3-3 early in the second set, Alabama rattled off eight-straight points to take an 11-3 lead. Georgia immediately responded by winning four of the next five rallies to cut the lead to five, 12-7. A 6-1 run a little later narrowed the deficit to one, 14-13. Five-straight points from Alabama opened the lead back up but Georgia responded with six-straight to take a 19-18 lead. Once again, the teams went toe-to-toe late. Down 23-22, Ritchie picked up three-straight kills to take the set, 25-23. Ritchie added eight kills on 10 attempts in the set and entered set three with 14 kills while Evans had 10 to her name.
Coming off a strong finish in set two, Georgia opened the third set on an 8-0 run, fueled by six kills from Ritchie in the run. Down by ten, 20-10, Alabama used a 6-1 run to cut the lead to five, 21-16. With Georgia up 23-16, Alabama rattled off another six-straight to cut the lead to one. Georgia was able to keep the Tide at bay, wrapping the third set 25-23 and the match in three sets. After eight in set two, Ritchie tacked on nine more kills in set three.
The Bulldogs return to action on Friday at #15 Kentucky. The Bulldogs and Wildcats are set to begin at 7 p.m. from Lexington. Georgia returns home next Sunday at 2 p.m. to host LSU.
Head Coach Tom Black
On what went well for the Bulldogs…
"There was some good volleyball and some bad volleyball. But I'm glad that we had some good stretches of volleyball. Rachel Ritchie was a stud today even though we had, what seemed like a million hitting errors in a row, we found a way to show some toughness."
On coming back…
"We got stuck in a rotation and that gave them a hug lead. We showed a lot of toughness and didn't let it affect our game. We took it point-by-point and we learned that this team will fight for sure. We just need to grow and keep building off of it."
Junior outside hitter Rachel Ritchie
On what went well…
"I think my connection with Meghan (Donovan) and the passers was really key tonight. I trusted them to get the pass up and we all just knew that we had each other's back and really just ran with it."
On the second set…
"I think we came in with a fire and knew that we don't play like that. We knew we needed to change something right then and there. It took some time but that really showed the trust we have in each other and the fire that we play with."
Senior setter Meghan Donovan
On the weekend...
"Yeah it was nice to be back home for two games in a row. I think the crowd helped us. They were really good wins, good SEC teams. Overall, it was a good weekend."
Team Stats
Bama
UGa
Kills
36
56
Errors
9
21
Attempts
119
138
Hitting %
.227
.254
Points
44
62
Assists
34
51
Aces
2
1
Blocks
6
5
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
23
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
S
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/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballOH
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