The 5-4 Georgia Tech Volleyball squad, needing a win after consecutive home losses to #6 Wisconsin and georgia, could not get the job done after getting swept by #24 Miami 3-0 (26-24, 25-14, 25-20). Tech opens
ACC play with a loss for the first time since the 2020, and falls to .500 or worse by their fifth loss for the first time since 2014. Tech has now lost four straight games dating back to their loss to Tennessee.
Tech rolled out a new starting lineup, putting Anna Fiderowicz in what has been Annika Groom’s spot at outside hitter the last few matches, a curious move knowing Groom was Tech’s best outside hitter against georgia and hit a career high in kills.
Nonetheless, despite being only a 50.9% favorite according to Evollve, Miami was in firm control of the match nearly the entire way. They only were down to Tech for very short moments in the first and second sets before running away with the third set early.
The match saw the return of Noemi Despaigne for the first time since early in the season playing only her 16th set of the year. Not appearing for the third straight game was Liv Mogridge, who has not dressed out since the Tennessee game.
How It Happened
Set 1
Used Bieleski as back line rotation for Mendes
Miami took the first break when Logan Wiley upon return sided out to give Miami a 4-2 lead. Tech came right back after a Miami attack error to make it 4-4. Miami hit the first three point run of the game, finding gaps in Tech’s back row for an 8-5 lead. Tech again countered with a Garibaldi putback at the net and a Mendes block to tie it at 10-10. After a series of ties up to 13-13, Tech grabbed two points for their first two point lead of the set at 15-13, which Miami answered with a four point run, forcing Tech’s first timeout up 17-15. Tech got back within one on a heater of a Mendes kill at 20-19, but two lost the next two points, leading Collier to burn Tech’s second timeout.
Bianca Garibaldi’s ace brought Tech within one again at 22-21, before going down set point after Mambu was blocked (Miami’s 5th of the set). When they needed it down 24-22, Tech got the next two points on a Miami service error and Mambu ace, forcing Miami’s first timeout at 24-24. Miami cleaned up on the next two points with a drop shot over Ital Lopuyo and a block of Anna Fiederowicz for the 26-24 win.
Set 2 (1-0 Miami)
Miami quickly had the momentum, winning a challenge to go up 2-1 and going on an early three point run for a 5-2 lead. Mambu won two straight points on a kill and ace to make it 6-5, but Miami hit on another three point run, forcing Tech’s first timeout down 10-6. Miami kept the pressure on, going up seven at 16-9. Tech was able to get Colon’s jump serve off the service line in one point on a service error and draw within five. Collier challenged a Wiley kill down 18-12 that was clearly not touched at the net despite the call, but the official didn’t overturn it.
Tech was all out of sorts from there, including two points where Tech let routine digs fall right in front of them to go down 22-13. Miami easily took the set 25-14.
Set 3 (2-0 Miami)
Collier made three chages to the lineup for the third set, putting in Noemi Despaigne, Anna Boezi, and Annika Groom in to replace Mimi Mambu, Bianca Garibaldi, and Anna Fiederowicz. It went badly very quickly. With Ariana Rodriguez’s jump serve at the line down 3-1 to Tech, the Canes went on a 6-0 run with three aces, and another instance of Tech letting easy digs fall to the floor. Down 8-4, Collier put in her 6-2 rotation with Ital Lopuyo and Sara Toth in for the first time all game.
Lopuyo got a block on the next point, but then gave it right back after Despaigne was called for a delay of game at the service line, forfeiting the point. Tech looked at its worst here with minimal cohesion in the passing game and playing reactive volleyball.
Boezi, Groom, and Despaigne then all got points of their own, but Tech was still down 17-11 going into the second run of Lopuyo/Toth on the floor. Tech couldn’t pull any closer by the time they were back off rotation, but in the dying moments we did see Despaigne land two of Tech’s more powerful kills of the game before Miami finished the Jackets off 25-20.
Stats & Game Leaders
Kills: Flormarie Heredia Colon (MIA): 15
Assists: Ariana Rodriguez (MIA): 30
Digs: Naylani Feliciano (MIA): 11
Blocks: Dalia Wilson (MIA): 7
Hit% (min. 10 attempts): Dalia Wilson (MIA): .692
Takeaways
There is one big takeaway for this entire team right now, and it’s that they have so, so much progress to make in nearly every facet of their game. Aside from minimizing errors at the service line, the defense and digging is leaving much to be desired from a standard Tech team. And because our dig game isn’t at it’s usual level, it’s affecting our passing, which is then negatively affecting the quality of looks we’re getting on offense. When we get clean looks, we’re good enough to put them away. Mendes has done that her whole time here. Mambu and Despaigne have the power to score. But a lot, a lot of work has to be done from the serve through the set to make that happen, and that’s where we are struggling mightily.
