Georgia Comes Back to Beat UCF on Final Day in Orlando

Saturday, September 11

Orlando, Fla.

3:00 p.m.

University of Georgia

4-5,0-0SEC

UCF

3-5,0-0AAC

Georgia

UCF

Georgia Comes Back to Beat UCF on Final Day in Orlando

September 11, 2021 | Volleyball

Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. – The University of Georgia women's volleyball team defeated UCF Saturday afternoon on the final day of action at the UCF Invitational in five sets (25-20, 22-25, 20-25, 25-21, 16-14).

Georgia concludes the weekend in Orlando 1-2.

Junior outside hitter Amber Stivrins tallied a season-best 22 kills while fellow junior Kacie Evans contributed 18 and hit .310. Sophomore middle Phoebe Awoleye picked up a career-best 14 kills Saturday and hit .565, committing only one error.

Defensively, senior Claire Rothenberger had a team-best 15 digs. Freshman setter Clara Brower had 12 digs along with 57 assists for her second double-double of the weekend. Additionally, sophomore libero Mallory Downing (11) and freshman Bailey Cox (10) each tipped the double-digit dig marks.

Georgia found itself down 8-3 in the opening set but battled to win nine-of-10 rallies to capture a 12-9 lead on the Knights. During the run, a pair of blocks, both assisted by Awoleye, knotted the set at 9-all. Georgia never relinquished the lead, leading by as much as seven at 23-16 down the stretch. UCF made a late-minute push, but Georgia held on to win the opening set 25-20. Senior Mallory Hernandez led the Georgia offense with five kills to start the match while Awoleye had three blocks.

The momentum stayed on the Bulldogs' side to open the second set, leading as much as six early, 9-3. UCF quickly gathered itself to cut it to one, 12-11. The Bulldogs worked to keep the Knights at bay, but a a 5-0 run gave UCF its first lead of the set, 21-19. The Knights used the late surge to take the set 25-22 and tie the match at a set apiece.

UCF jumped out to a quick lead in the third until Georgia come back to find an 8-7 lead following back-to-back kills from Awoelye and Sage Naves. UCF responded with four-straight to reopen an 11-8 lead and force a Bulldog timeout. Georgia tied it up at 11-all but once again, UCF went on a 7-0 run to break open an 18-11 lead and rode it to a 25-20 set three win and 2-1 lead in the match.

The Knights took an early 5-1 lead in the fourth. The early lead was erased when Georgia tied it up at 7-all. A point-for-point battle ensued until UCF won five-straight to retake a 17-13 advantage. The Bulldogs responded with a 7-0 run to go ahead 20-17. The Knights closed it to 21-20, but Georgia held on to win the frame 25-21 and force a fifth set.

Down 4-3 in the fifth, four-straight points from the Bulldogs opened a 7-4 lead and UCF took a timeout. Now up 10-6, a 3-0 Knight run cut it to 10-9 then tied it at 12. A kill from Stivrins put UGA in front 13-12 and UCF called its final timeout. The Knights knotted it at 13 after the break but a kill from Evans drew set point. UCF once again tied it then a Brower dump and a Bulldog block from Evans and Awoleye sealed the five-set victory for Georgia, 16-14.

The Bulldogs are back in action Thursday, Sept. 16 at NC State. Georgia will conclude non-conference play at Georgia Tech next Saturday.