Bulldogs Defeat Tennessee, 3-1, Sweeps Home-and Home Series

Sunday, November 3

Knoxville, Tenn.

1:30 p.m.

University of Georgia

16-6,8-3SEC

Tennessee

10-12,4-8SEC

Georgia

Tennessee

Photo by: Tony Walsh

Bulldogs Defeat Tennessee, 3-1, Sweeps Home-and Home Series

November 03, 2019 | Volleyball

Box Score

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Georgia women's volleyball team defeated the Tennessee Lady Vols in four sets (26-24, 25-23, 20-25, 25-21) Sunday afternoon at Thompson-Boling Arena.

With the win, Georgia (17-5, 9-2) concluded a sweep of the home-and-home series with the Lady Vols for the first time since 2013. Georgia won the match in Athens on Oct. 4 in four sets.

"It was a tough environment against a good team and I'm really proud of our team's ability to sustain the highs and low of the match, some under our control and some not," said head coach Tom Black. "Meghan (Donovan) lead us incredibly well as always. It will be good to get back to our Friday-Sunday match rhythm and be able to train a little more this week. Every match is a battle with so many good teams in the SEC."

Sunday's match between Georgia and the Tennessee featured 34 ties and 14 lead changes.

Freshman Kacie Evans led the way for the Georgia attackers, tallying a season-best 23 kills while hitting .341. She was followed by a 15-kill performance from junior Rachel Ritchie. Sophomore Sage Naves also topped double digits, concluding with 10 on the nose.

Sophomore Claire Rothenberger tied a season-best 15 digs to co-lead the squad with junior libero Kendall Glover. On the net, Naves contributed seven blocks while Georgia had eight in the match.

At the service line, Rothenberger and Glover each picked up two aces while the Bulldogs combined for seven total aces.

The Bulldogs used an early 4-0 run to open a 6-3 lead in the opening set; however, Tennessee (10-12, 4-8) immediately responded with a four-point run of its own to retake the lead, 7-6. The Lady Vols held the advantage, leading at 18-15 and prompting a timeout from the Georgia bench. Following the timeout, the Bulldogs surged to win the next three points and tie the set at 18 all. The teams proceeded to go back-and-forth but Georgia struggled to find a lead. Down 23-22, Georgia used kills from Naves and Evans to draw set point, 24-23. The Lady Vols used a Tessa Grubbs kill to tie it and Georgia called for its final timeout. A Naves kill from the right side drew set point once again and an ace from Evans sealed the opening set, 26-24. Naves and Evans both registered five kills in the set.

Tennessee jumped out in set two early, leading as much as four, 9-5. Georgia worked to cut the lead to 10-9 but three-straight Lady Vol points reopened the lead at 13-9 and Georgia used a timeout. Following the timeout, the Bulldogs went on a 6-1 run to take a 15-14 lead. Down 22-19, Georgia won three-straight, highlighted by two aces from Rothenberger, to tie it at 22. Tennessee reclaimed the lead 23-22, but Georgia won the next three to steal away the second set, capped by an ace from Chandler, 25-23. Evans added six kills in the set to top the double-digit mark while Ritchie tallied five.

An early four-point run by the Bulldogs gave Georgia an early advantage, 5-3. With Georgia up 9-8, a 4-1 Tennessee run put the Lady Vols in front, 12-10. Georgia worked to tie it at 16 but Tennessee once again rallied to keep the Bulldogs at arm's length, 19-16. Down three, 20-17, back-to-back kills from Evans cut the lead to one, 20-19, and forced a Lady Vol timeout. Tennessee was able to fend off the Bulldogs, winning five of the last six rallies to keep the match alive, 25-20.

Georgia found a lead in set four quickly and forced an early timeout from the Tennessee bench, 4-1. A little later, Georgia used a 5-1 run opened a 10-4 lead. With Georgia ahead 15-8, an 8-2 Lady Vol run cut the lead to one, 17-16. Tennessee tied it at 18, then again at 20 to force a Georgia timeout. The Bulldogs never relinquished the lead and concluded the victory with a 25-21 set four victory. Evans finished the match with seven kills in the fourth.

Up next, the Bulldogs will host top-25 teams next weekend at Stegeman Coliseum. Georgia hosts #15 Kentucky Friday evening at 7 p.m. On Sunday, #24 Missouri comes to Athens for a 2 p.m. matchup.