Fighting Peaches: Georgia Tech volleyball Kayla Kaiser pre-Pitt interview (11.5.19) #sportsinquirer #togetherweswarm @gtvolleyball @gtathletics @theacc @accvolleyball @theaccdn

November 5, 2019November 6, 2019 ~ E. Marcel Pourtout ~ Leave a comment

Georgia Tech vollyballplayer Kayla Kaiser (25) celebrates point during contest
Photo credit: Georgia Tech Athletics

The Sports Inquirer spoke with Georgia Tech volleyball player Kayla Kaiser before the team’s practice Nov. 5. The sophomore middle had a season-high five blocks, eight kills, four digs and two aces in the Yellow Jackets’ 3-2 comeback win at North Carolina State Nov. 3.

Topics included Georgia Tech’s win, the team’s eight-game winning streak all in ACC play, the team’s blocking approach on defense, moving up to second place in the conference standings and preparing to visit first-place in the ACC and second-nationally ranked Pitt Nov. 8.

Atlantic Coast Conference Has 15 Selected to the Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List

July 7, 2016July 6, 2016 ~ E. Marcel Pourtout ~ Leave a comment

Release from the ACC:

The Atlantic Coast Conference had 15 players tabbed for the Chuck Bednarik Award preseason watch list the Maxwell Club announced Tuesday. The Bednarik Award is presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate defensive football player.

In all, the league had 30 players chosen for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards preseason watch lists.

A total of 90 players were named to the Bednarik Award preseason watch list. Clemson led all ACC teams with three selections in LB Ben Boulware, CB Cordrea Tankersley and DT Carlos Watkins.

Florida State, with S Derwin James and DE DeMarcus Walker, Louisville with LBs Devonte Fields and Keith Kelsey, and Pitt with DE Ejuan Price and S Jordan Whitehead, each had two players chosen.

Nine ACC schools had at least one player chosen for the Bednarik Award preseason watch list, and 12 of the 14 ACC programs had at least one person named to either the Bednarik or Maxwell Award watch lists.

The last player from an ACC school to win the Bednarik Award was Pitt DT Aaron Donald in 2013.

The ACC Players chosen for the 2016 preseason Bednarik Award preseason watch list are:

Name School Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown

Quin Blanding Virginia S 6-4 215 Jr. Virginia Beach, Va.

Ben Boulware Clemson LB 5-11 240 Sr. Anderson, S.C.

Bradley Chubb NC State DE 6-4 273 Jr. Powder Springs, Ga.

Chuck Clark Virginia Tech FS 6-1 204 Sr. Suffolk, Va.

DeVon Edwards Duke CB 5-9 180 Sr.-R Covington, Ga.

Devonte Fields Louisville LB 6-4 245 Sr. Ft. Worth, Texas

Derwin James Florida State S 6-3 213 So. Haines City, Fla.

Keith Kelsey Louisville LB 6-1 236 Sr. Gainesville, Fla.

Micah Kiser Virginia LB 6-2 245 Jr.-R Baltimore, Md.

Matt Milano Boston College LB 6-1 218 Sr. Orlando, Fla.

Ejuan Price Pitt DE 6-0 250 Sr.-R Rankin, Pa.

Cordrea Tankersley Clemson CB 6-1 195 Sr. Beech Island, S.C.

DeMarcus Walker Florida State DE 6-3 273 Sr. Jacksonville, Fla.

Carlos Watkins Clemson DT 6-3 300 Sr.-R Mooresboro, N.C.

Jordan Whitehead Pitt S 5-11 185 So. Aliquippa, Pa.

Georgia Tech volleyball falls at Pitt, 3-2

October 18, 2015 ~ E. Marcel Pourtout ~ Leave a comment

Georgia Tech outside hitter Teegan Van GunstPhoto credit: Georgia Tech Athletics — Georgia Tech outside hitter Teegan Van Gunst
Photo credit: Georgia Tech Athletics

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.