Georgia Tech volleyball falls at Pitt, 3-2

Release from Georgia Tech Athletics:

The Georgia Tech volleyball team (12-7, 3-4 ACC) fell in a heartbreaking five-set match at Pitt (15-4, 5-2) Friday night at the Fitzgerald Fieldhouse.

With the Yellow Jackets ahead by one point in the first game, 10-9, Georgia Tech opened that lead to 13-9. Tech kept the pressure on and won the final four points of the set. The Jackets hit at a .370 hitting clip to win the set 25-17, while holding Pitt to a .111 attacking percentage.

Pitt took its first lead of the match late in set two, 19-18. From there, the Panthers went on a 6-1 run to win 25-19.

In game three, Georgia Tech  jumped out to an 8-5 lead and went on a 5-0 run to take a 13-5 advantage. Pitt pulled within four, 24-20, but a cross-court kill by Ashley Askin put the set away for Tech.

Georgia Tech overcame a 7-2 deficit in game four to tie it at 10. Georgia Tech stayed with the Panthers until Pitt went on a four-point run to take a 20-16 lead. Pitt held on to win 25-21 and force a fifth set.

At the switch in game five, GT trailed Pitt 8-3. Georgia Tech dug deep and Lauren Pitz had three kills and a part in two blocks to pull Tech within one, 13-12. Askin’s kill made it 13 all, but Pitt pulled ahead with match point 14-13 and held on to win 15-13.

“I’m very proud of how our team competed tonight,” head coach Michelle Collier said. “We showed a lot of grit and fight, and pushed Pitt. Small details got the win away from us. Now it’s time to refocus, and prepare for a good Virginia Tech team on Sunday.”

Quick Hits

–       Teegan Van Gunst tallied her 11^th double-double of the season with 15 kills and a season-high 20 digs. Annika Van Gunst matched her season-high with 15 kills and Sydney Wilson added 10.

–       Rebecca Martin tallied her first double-double of the season with a season-best 52 assists and 10 digs.

–       Martin eclipsed 2,000 career assists and solidified her spot in Georgia Tech’s top 10 career assists list.

–       London Ackermann held down the back row defense with 21 digs, and Lauren Pitz tallied 10 blocks for the Jackets.

–       Tech out-blocked Pitt 13 to seven.