Georgia Begins Weekend with Four-Set Loss at NC State

Thursday, September 16

Raleigh, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

University of Georgia

4-6,0-0SEC

NC State

6-4,0-0ACC

Georgia

NC State

Georgia Begins Weekend with Four-Set Loss at NC State

September 16, 2021 | Volleyball

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. – Georgia women's volleyball dropped a four-set decision at North Carolina State Thursday evening to open the final week of non-conference play (25-16, 29-31, 22-25, 23-25).

Junior outside hitter Kacie Evans picked up her third double-double of the season, recording 17 kills and 11 digs. She also added three blocks in the match. Junior Amber Stivrins also tipped the double-digit kill mark with 12.

As a team, the Bulldogs recorded a season-best 10 service aces. Stivrins laid down a career-best five in the match while freshman setter Clara Brower had a season-best four from the service line.

Defensively, sophomore libero Mallory Downing picked up 13 digs to lead the team. On the net, senior Sage Naves and sophomore Phoebe Awoleye had five blocks apiece. The Bulldogs tallied 12 team blocks in the match, tying a season best.

Georgia (4-6) found an early 3-1 lead and was able to widen the early advantage early in the opening set. After Evans returned an overpass to go ahead by five, 13-8, the Wolfpack took its first timeout. NC State (6-4) won three-straight rallies after the break to slice the lead to two and prompt a Bulldog timeout, 13-11. Georgia kept the Wolfpack at bay and finished the set on a 7-1 run to win the opening stanza 25-16.

An 8-1 run propelled the Bulldogs from being down in set two, to a 12-6 lead on the Wolfpack. NC State responded with a 6-1 run of its own to slice the lead to two and prompt a timeout from the Georgia bench, 13-11. The Bulldogs regrouped and went on a 7-1 run, including by back-to-back Stivrins aces, to open a 22-14 lead. The set of runs continued as NC State battled to win 10 of the next 12 rallies and tie the set at 24-all. The Wolfpack was able to find the advantage, drawing set point four times, but Georgia tied it up each time. Knotted at 29, NC State finished the long set and tied the match, 31-29.

Down 11-8 in set three, Georgia won four-straight to find a 12-11 lead. With the Bulldogs ahead 15-13, a 5-1 Wolfpack run gave NC State back the lead, 18-16. Georgia knotted the set at 20-all, but NC State was able to hold on to win the frame 25-22 and take a one-set lead in the match.

NC State used a 4-0 run to find an 11-10 lead in the third; however, Georgia responded with four-straight of its own to go ahead 14-11 and force a Wolfpack break. NC State clawed its way back to tie it at 17. All tied up at 21, the Wolfpack won two-straight to go ahead late, 23-21. NC State was able to hold on after a Bulldog timeout to take the match in four sets, 25-23.

The Bulldogs will play their non-conference finale Saturday against in-state rival and 18^th-ranked Georgia Tech. First serve from O'Keefe Gymnasium in Atlanta is set for 7 p.m. The match will stream live on ACC Network Extra.