GT Volleyball closely swept by #7 SMU 3-0

Alida Bennour | GTAA McCAMISH PAVILION — Georgia Tech athletics finished an 0-3 weekend after Tech Volleyball was swept 3-0 (26-24, 26-24, 25-21) by #7 Southern Methodist, the second game of Tech’s two games in McCamish Pavilion. The Jackets fall to 13-7 on the season and 5-4 in ACC play. In six gam

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McCAMISH PAVILION — Georgia Tech athletics finished an 0-3 weekend after Tech Volleyball was swept 3-0 (26-24, 26-24, 25-21) by #7 Southern Methodist, the second game of Tech’s two games in McCamish Pavilion. The Jackets fall to 13-7 on the season and 5-4 in ACC play.

In six games in McCamish Pavilion so far for Tech Volleyball, they are 1-5.

While the Jackets played closer to SMU than they did #2 Pitt on Friday, SMU continually held a hitting advantage on Tech, hitting .264 to Tech’s .155. Aside from

a great stretch from middle blocker Zoë Humphrey in the second set with three blocks in five points, Tech’s relevance in the match largely came from SMU attack and service errors.

Dallas native Simone Heard saw an extended run in the second and third sets in place of Magda Kobaidze, finishing with her first two aces of her career and three kills. SMU’s Suli Davis led all hitters with 17 kills.

From a season outlook perspective, Tech sits in 8th in the ACC and likely will go 1-1 next week as they face Notre Dame and #3 Louisville on the road. While Tech certainly is still in contention to make the NCAA Tournament, somehow getting past Louisville would be the key win that could put them over the hump.

1st Set

SMU took the initial lead on a four point run to go up 6-3. A Laura Bieleski ace and Helosie Soares kill kept Tech within one before five straight sets of sideouts had Tech tied 9-9 through 13-13 largely from Alida Bennour kills. SMU’s Hannah Beaufort landed an ace to put SMU back up two at 15-13. Two points later, Tech called their first timeout in the midst of a four point scoring drought. The run lasted six points for SMU before a Larissa Mendes kill put Tech back on the board, followed by an Alida Bennour block to prompt SMU’s first timeout up 19-15. Tech then went on a 5-2 run with a mix of SMU errors and a net violation, forcing their second timeout at 21-20 SMU.

At 22-21 SMU, a Mustang attack error tied it at 22-22. Two points later, Bennour served into the net for a 23-23 tie before Suli Davis landed a kill for SMU, forcing Tech’s last timeout down 24-23. Bieleski tied it on the next point with her first kill of the match, but wasn’t enough as Beaufort putback and Ladyn Livings kill gave SMU the set 26-24.

Set 2 (1-0 SMU)

Tech jumped to the early lead on a 4-0 run to take a 4-1 lead. After a rare serve clock violation by SMU to go down 7-4, the Mustangs went on a 4-0 run to go up 8-7. Magda Kobaidze at this point was struggling some, at which Collier subbed in Simone Heard to take over at the right side. When it was her turn to serve at 10-9 SMU, Collier tried to sub Kobaidze back in but was late on the sub, leaving Heard at the service line. Heard then landed two aces in a row, her first of her career, starting a five point run that put Tech up 13-10. SMU clawed back to tie it at 14-14 on a Suli Davis kill.

Tech grabbed a two point advantage again from two Alida Bennour kills, holding a small lead until a block and Jadyn Livings kill tied it at 19-19, forcing Tech’s first timeout. SMU regained a two point lead at 22-20, at which Tech went on a 3-1 run from a Bennour kill and Soares block to tie at 23-23, forcing SMU’s last timeout. Despite Bennour tying it at 24-24, SMU took the set 26-24.

Set 3 (2-0 SMU)

Simone Heard stayed out to start the third set, but Tech’s early 5-1 deficit came from lax defense all around, prompting Tech’s first timeout early. SMU’s lead climbed to 9-3 on another string of SMU kills, at which Collier put Anna Fiedorowicz on the floor for the first time who landed a kill. Down 11-5, Tech got their first run of points with three Zoë Humphrey blocks over five points to draw to 12-11 SMU.

SMU then hit a three point run, capped off by a Elle Vandeweghe ace to go up 15-11. Tech brought it back close with some action from Bianca Garibaldi to make it 17-16, but SMU from there on kept Tech at bay with timely kills, the last two coming from Favor Anyanwu to win it 25-21.

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