Bulldogs Conclude Regular Season with Sweep of Alabama

Wednesday, November 27

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

6 p.m.

University of Georgia

20-9,12-6SEC

Alabama

12-16,4-13SEC

Georgia

Alabama

Photo by: Kristin M. Bradshaw

Bulldogs Conclude Regular Season with Sweep of Alabama

November 27, 2019 | Volleyball

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Georgia women's volleyball team concluded the 2019 regular season with a three-set sweep of Alabama Wednesday evening at Foster Auditorium (25-21, 25-17, 26-24).

With the win, the Bulldogs (20-9, 12-6) wrap the regular season with 20 wins for the second time in three seasons under head coach Tom Black.

The Bulldogs will now await the NCAA Selection Show Sunday evening to hear their placement in the 2019 NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Selection Show airs Sunday at 8:30 p.m., ET, on ESPNU.

Freshman Kacie Evans tallied 19 kills followed closely by 16 from junior Rachel Ritchie. Evans' ties her 19 kills set at Mississippi State (Nov. 17) for second-most in a three-set match.

Defensively, junior Kendall Glover put up 24 digs, tying for second most in a three-set match.

Senior Meghan Donovan's 49 assists set a new rally scoring record for assists in a three-set match.

A slow start forced an early timeout from the Georgia bench, down 7-2. The Bulldogs cut the Tide lead to 9-7 but a 4-1 run by Alabama (12-16, 4-13) reopened the five-point lead. Georgia responded with four-straight kills to pull within one point, 13-12; however, the Tide responded with four-straight to once against lead by five, 17-12. Down 19-15, the Bulldogs went on a 10-2 run to come back and win the opening set 25-21. Ritchie and Evans each tallied six kills while Young had five in the first stanza.

With momentum on its side, Georgia opened set two with a 5-1 lead. Alabama pulled within two, 8-6, but the Bulldogs won six of the next seven rallies to force a Tide timeout, up 14-7. The Bulldogs led by as much as 11 in the second set, 20-9; however, Alabama halted the Georgia offense, going on a 7-1 run to make it a five-point set, 21-16. Georgia regrouped to close the set by winning four of the next five rallies and taking a 2-0 lead in the match, 25-17. Ritchie added seven more kills in the second frame, eclipsing the double-digit kill mark.

The third set was the closest of the evening as it featured 10 ties and four lead changes. Georgia jumped out in front 7-3 but Alabama worked to overtake the lead at 10-9. Tied at 12, the Bulldogs used a 4-1 run to take a 15-12 lead. Alabama worked to knot the set at 20. Georgia regained the lead, 23-21, but a 3-0 Tide run gave Alabama the lead and set point, 24-23. A kill by Sage Naves tied it at 24 then a kill from Kayla Rivera gave Georgia match point. Evans' 19^th kill secured the sweep for the Bulldogs, 26-24. Evans wrapped the match with eight kills in the final set.

Head coach Tom Black
On the match…
"I thought the ladies were tough tonight. We let a couple leads slip. It's always tough to play on the road and we knew what was at stake, but we showed some real toughness and our serving and defense was pretty solid throughout the match."

On regrouping to finish the first set with momentum…
"Our attacking picked up, we were making a lot of hitting errors and our blocking got better as the match went on. I think the score came and went with the efficiency of our hitters."

On the excitement of the NCAA Tournament around the corner…
"We're excited. I think we've got a great shot. It's obviously a huge step for our program and I'm really proud of the team."