Georgia Opens Series with Four-Set Win over Tide

Saturday, October 30

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

2:00 p.m.

University of Georgia

7-14,3-7SEC

Alabama

10-12,2-8SEC

Georgia

Alabama

October 30, 2021 | Volleyball

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Georgia women's volleyball team opened its series against Alabama with a four-set victory over the Crimson Tide Saturday at Foster Auditorium (28-30, 25-18, 25-22, 25-20).

Junior Kacie Evans paced the Bulldogs' offense with 16 kills Saturday, followed closely by fellow junior Amber Stivrins with 13 on the day. Evans was responsible for two of Georgia's four service aces. Additionally, Sage Naves and Meghan Froemming each contributed nine kills for Georgia.

Defensively, freshman libero Bailey Cox tallied 13 digs. A match after putting up a season-best 16 team blocks, the Bulldogs followed with 14 on Saturday. Naves led the way with seven and Phoebe Awoleye and Evans each picked up six.

Alabama jumped out to an early lead, but Georgia worked to knot the opening set at 10-all. Tied at 11, Alabama took three of the next four to hold a 15-12 lead at the first set media break. Georgia cut the lead to three, 19-16, and Alabama called a timeout. After the Tide break, Alabama took the next two to widen its lead back to five and force Georgia's second timeout of the set, 21-16. Following the Bulldog timeout, Georgia went on a 7-1 run to knot the set at 22-all. Tied at 23, a back-and-forth battle ensued to decide the first set victor. Alabama drew set point first then Georgia won back-to-back rallies to draw its first set point, 25-24. The Bulldogs drew set point two more times, but Alabama kept the frame alive. The Tide took the exciting first set, 30-28. Both teams hit north of .350 in the first frame.

With the Bulldogs ahead by one in the second set, 11-10, a 4-1 Georgia run widened the advantage to 15-11 heading into the second set media timeout. The Tide worked to cut it to two, 16-14, but a 7-0 run for the Bulldogs opened a 23-14 lead. Alabama slowed the Bulldogs slightly, but Georgia held on to take the second set 25-18.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 5-2 lead before a 6-1 Alabama run put the Tide in front, 8-6, in the third set. Georgia reclaimed the lead with four-straight 11-10, but Alabama battled to flip the lead once again. Down 16-14, Georgia used a 4-1 run, capped by back-to-back Stivrins kills, to go ahead 18-17. Alabama used three Bulldog errors to go ahead 20-18. Another 3-0 run for the Bulldogs flipped the lead once again, 22-21, and Alabama called timeout. Georgia held on to conclude the set on a 6-1 one to take a one-set lead in the match, 25-22. The lead changed hands a total of six times in the third.

Down 6-7, Georgia took six of the next eight points to capture a 12-9 lead in the fourth. Alabama capitalized on a couple Georgia errors to ride a 4-0 run and retake a 13-12 lead. The Bulldogs and Tide proceeded to go back-and-forth. Tied at 19-all, Georgia finished the set on a 6-1 run to capture the four-set victory, 25-20.

The Bulldogs and Tide will conclude the weekend series Sunday at 12 p.m. Sunday's match will air nationally on SEC Network live from Tuscalooa.