Friday, October 15
Athens, Ga.
7:00 p.m.
University of Georgia
5-12,1-5SEC
1
vs
3
Tennessee
15-3,7-1SEC
1
2
3
4
F
Tennessee
22
25
25
25
3
Georgia
25
22
17
18
1
Bulldogs Drop Four-Set Match to No. 21 Tennessee
October 15, 2021 | Volleyball
ATHENS, Ga. – The University of Georgia women's volleyball team fell to 21st-ranked Tennessee Friday evening in four sets at Stegeman Coliseum (25-22, 22-25, 17-25, 18-25).
Junior outside hitter Amber Stivrins paced the Bulldog attack Friday evening, registering 16 kills. Senior Kayla Rivera added nine kills and freshman Abby Maesch had eight kills in just two sets played.
Freshman libero Bailey Cox led the team with nine digs while junior Kacie Evans had eight on the night.
Friday's match featured 32 total ties and the lead changed 14 times.
In the opening set, a 4-0 run opened a five-point lead for the Bulldogs as Tennessee exhausted an early timeout in the set, 10-5. With Georgia ahead 11-6, the Lady Vols nearly halted the Bulldog offense and went on a 6-1 run to tie the set at 12-all and force a timeout from the Bulldogs. Later, four-straight from Georgia reopened an 18-15 lead and prompted the second timeout from Tennessee. The Lady Vols cut it to one, but Georgia held on to take the opening set, 25-22. Stivrins registered seven kills in the first set.
Like set one, the Bulldogs used an early scoring run to find a lead in set two, this time a 5-0 run to go ahead 9-5. The serving run by Clara Brower included a pair of aces from the freshman. With the Bulldogs ahead 12-9, Tennessee used four-straight to retake a 13-12 lead. Georgia would find a 22-21 lead on a Stivrins ace, but Tennessee closed out the second set on a 4-0 run to take the frame 25-22. Stivrins tipped the double-digit kill mark in the second, having 12 at the end of the set.
With Georgia ahead 10-9, won 11 of the next 14 rallies to open a 21-12 lead on the Bulldogs in set three. Tennessee rolled to a 25-17 set three win to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Down 4-3, the Bulldogs rattled off four-straight to take a 7-4 lead and prompt a Lady Vol timeout. Tennessee responded after the break to knot it at 7-all. A back-and-forth ensued. Georgia went ahead by a couple, 17-15, but a 7-2 run drew match point for Tennessee, 24-17. Tennessee completed the match in four sets, 25-18.
Georgia will continue its homestand next week with a pair of matches against the Auburn Tigers. Georgia and Auburn will square off Thursday and Friday at Stegeman Coliseum. First serve both evenings is set for 7 p.m.
Head Coach Tom Black
On the environment of Stegeman…
"I think it helps us a lot. We are super appreciative; it is a great environment. We really appreciate the fans coming out. We want to keep building that and keep encouraging that. It is a big boost for us when they come out for sure."
On the team's effort…
"If you are fighting you have a chance. We have to keep fighting. I still believe this team is going to break through, we are learning a lot of lessons. It is really coming down to consistency, we had a great opportunity to go up 2-0 tonight. Then I thought the rest of the match was a completely different match and we have to be mature enough to respond to that. Throwing our bodies around we had some unbelievable wins in rallies in transition, our serve-receive was just not where it normally is so we were giving away too many points. This team fights and that is why I believe we are going to get through this."
Junior outside hitter Amber Stivrins
On her offensive roll…
"There is definitely a little bit of pressure, but I think that is the job of an outside hitter. We are going to get a lot of out-of-system sets, which accounts for most of points in transition. I love that roll because it demands a lot from us, but I wish we could deliver more."
On what needs to happen to be more consistent…
"Not so much our play. We can obviously be more consistent, but I think having the same aggression and intensity. Come out with energy on the court. Sometimes one mistake can lead into another. The first two sets we're really good at cutting that, but we see that travel from point-to-point in the later sets. It's just something we can learn from, for sure."
Junior outside hitter Amber Stivrins paced the Bulldog attack Friday evening, registering 16 kills. Senior Kayla Rivera added nine kills and freshman Abby Maesch had eight kills in just two sets played.
Freshman libero Bailey Cox led the team with nine digs while junior Kacie Evans had eight on the night.
Friday's match featured 32 total ties and the lead changed 14 times.
In the opening set, a 4-0 run opened a five-point lead for the Bulldogs as Tennessee exhausted an early timeout in the set, 10-5. With Georgia ahead 11-6, the Lady Vols nearly halted the Bulldog offense and went on a 6-1 run to tie the set at 12-all and force a timeout from the Bulldogs. Later, four-straight from Georgia reopened an 18-15 lead and prompted the second timeout from Tennessee. The Lady Vols cut it to one, but Georgia held on to take the opening set, 25-22. Stivrins registered seven kills in the first set.
Like set one, the Bulldogs used an early scoring run to find a lead in set two, this time a 5-0 run to go ahead 9-5. The serving run by Clara Brower included a pair of aces from the freshman. With the Bulldogs ahead 12-9, Tennessee used four-straight to retake a 13-12 lead. Georgia would find a 22-21 lead on a Stivrins ace, but Tennessee closed out the second set on a 4-0 run to take the frame 25-22. Stivrins tipped the double-digit kill mark in the second, having 12 at the end of the set.
With Georgia ahead 10-9, won 11 of the next 14 rallies to open a 21-12 lead on the Bulldogs in set three. Tennessee rolled to a 25-17 set three win to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Down 4-3, the Bulldogs rattled off four-straight to take a 7-4 lead and prompt a Lady Vol timeout. Tennessee responded after the break to knot it at 7-all. A back-and-forth ensued. Georgia went ahead by a couple, 17-15, but a 7-2 run drew match point for Tennessee, 24-17. Tennessee completed the match in four sets, 25-18.
Georgia will continue its homestand next week with a pair of matches against the Auburn Tigers. Georgia and Auburn will square off Thursday and Friday at Stegeman Coliseum. First serve both evenings is set for 7 p.m.
Head Coach Tom Black
On the environment of Stegeman…
"I think it helps us a lot. We are super appreciative; it is a great environment. We really appreciate the fans coming out. We want to keep building that and keep encouraging that. It is a big boost for us when they come out for sure."
On the team's effort…
"If you are fighting you have a chance. We have to keep fighting. I still believe this team is going to break through, we are learning a lot of lessons. It is really coming down to consistency, we had a great opportunity to go up 2-0 tonight. Then I thought the rest of the match was a completely different match and we have to be mature enough to respond to that. Throwing our bodies around we had some unbelievable wins in rallies in transition, our serve-receive was just not where it normally is so we were giving away too many points. This team fights and that is why I believe we are going to get through this."
Junior outside hitter Amber Stivrins
On her offensive roll…
"There is definitely a little bit of pressure, but I think that is the job of an outside hitter. We are going to get a lot of out-of-system sets, which accounts for most of points in transition. I love that roll because it demands a lot from us, but I wish we could deliver more."
On what needs to happen to be more consistent…
"Not so much our play. We can obviously be more consistent, but I think having the same aggression and intensity. Come out with energy on the court. Sometimes one mistake can lead into another. The first two sets we're really good at cutting that, but we see that travel from point-to-point in the later sets. It's just something we can learn from, for sure."
Team Stats
UT
UGa
Kills
60
51
Errors
17
27
Attempts
140
133
Hitting %
.307
.180
Points
85
59
Assists
51
45
Aces
5
5
Blocks
20
3
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
16
Aces
2
Blocks
0
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
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