Ref job, that’s really how we lost
#15 Georgia Tech Volleyball lost 3-2 to #23 Florida State (13-25, 25-15, 25-21, 24-26, 10-15) to begin the Florida road trip, falling to 20-6 (12-5 ACC) on the season. The loss moves Tech to 3-5 against ranked opponents this season with games against #1 Pitt and #7 Stanford remaining next week.
Tonight was the return of Heloise Soares to the lineup after being out for two months with injury, making it the first game Head Coach Michelle Collier had her full roster available since the Florida game in McCamish Pavilion. This was the first five set match in Tallahassee for Tech since Julia Bergmann’s famous 38 kill game.
Bianca Bertolino flirted with a double double-double with 17 kills and 19 digs. Both Sofia Velez and Luanna Emiliano got assist/dig double-doubles, Velez with 11 & 23 and Emiliano with 34 & 14. Soares finished with 20 assists and five digs.
Logan Wiley had another great game, keeping her starting setter role with 10 kills and five blocks hitting .360.
Set 1
FSU had no issues offensively in the early going, sideouting at 100% through the first 20 points to a 13-7 lead, at which Tech called their first timeout. FSU got to 16-7 on a six point run that cleared Tech out of the set, continuing to side out perfectly whenever Tech did score, which was only six more times before falling 25-13. We did see Heloise Soares return to action from her hand injury in the set, making it the first time since the Florida game that the entire team has been healthy.
Stats via Florida State
Set 2 (1-0 FSU)
Tech got off to a much better start in the second getting quick points from Logan Wiley and DeAndra Pierce before Collier subbed in Mendes/Soares very early in the set. That grouping netted a pair of Mendes kills starting a five point run to get to 11-5 GT. Tech kept growing the margin without going on any big runs but doing far better with sideout and sharing the ball well offensively with rockets of in system kills from Otene and Mendes. Florida State called timeout down 20-12 which did nothing as Tech went on a six point run to all but seal the set, eventually getting it at 25-15 on a Wiley kill.
Stats via Florida State
Set 3 (1-1)
Collier put Mendes and Soares in early for a couple points, getting Mendes an early kill. Mogridge and Wiley combined for Tech’s first three point run of the set, which FSU countered immediately to tie it at 5-5. A Mogridge block two points later forced FSU’s first timeout down 7-5. After a couple more ties, FSU pulled ahead on a 5-2 run to go up 13-10, forcing Tech’s first timeout of the set. Tech pulled back within one a couple of times but didn’t get the lead until a six point run put them ahead 21-18 with three fantastic kills by Otene. She finished with six in the set, all coming in the clutch late as Tech finished the set 25-21 on a Mendes kill.
Stats via Florida State
Set 4 (GT 2-1)
The Seminoles got out to an early 5-2 lead before Tech countered with the same run to tie it at 7-7, then ran out a seven point run with an Emiliano ace and Wiley block to go up 14-9. The lead got to seven at 17-10 from an Otene kill before FSU went on a 4-1 run, prompting Collier to call timeout at 18-14. Their run continued to 19-17, where after a challenge loss, Collier burned Tech’s second timeout of the set. Tech finally started scoring again, holding a 1-2 point lead all the way to 23-21, where after a successful challenge, FSU tied it at 23. Otene hit a kill to make it match point at 24-23 before FSU went on a three point run to take the set 26-24.
Stats via Florida State
Set 5 (2-2)
Florida State took the crucial early lead up 3-0 after the refs took away a Wiley overpass kilI for inexplicable reasons, and with no broadcasters we never got to hear why they called it as such. That call set the tone for the entire set after both Collier and Associate Head Coach Claudio Pinhero had large reactions from the missed call. Still with a three point lead at 12-9, the refs again botched a horrible double touch call on Tech. A yellow card was given to someone on the floor for Tech, either Collier of Bertolino who was continually talking with the refs as the on court captain. FSU finished the set with at 15-10 win after a Tech pass went off the ceiling and fell short of Otene going for an attack.
Stats & Game Leaders
Stats via Florida State
Game Leaders
Kills: Tamara Otene (GT)/Audrey Koenig (FSU) – 18
Assists: Luanna Emiliano (GT) – 34
Digs: Sofia Velez (GT)/Taylor Head (FSU) – 23
Points: Tamara Otene (GT)/Audrey Koenig (FSU) – 20.5
Hit % (min. 10 attempts): Khori Louis (FSU) – .538%
Blocks: Logan Wiley (GT) – 5