Alabama
Georgia
Volleyball Topped by Georgia 3-1
10/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 1, 2010
ATHENS, Ga. - Senior Alyssa Meuth and sophomore Kayla Fitterer combined for 23 kills and sophomore Kelsey Anderson scooped up career-best 25 digs, but it was not enough as the volleyball team fell 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 27-25, 25-17) Friday to Georgia at the Ramsey Center. With the loss, the Crimson Tide drops to 8-6 overall and 0-4 in Southeastern Conference play, while the Bulldogs improve to 10-6 on the season and 2-3 in the league.
"I was so proud of how our team played together tonight, and I could tell there was something different about us, something very good," Alabama head coach Judy Green said. "If we win set three we are probably going to win the match, but we couldn't get those last two points in a row to close it out, which is something we usually take care of. I would like to see us pass the ball with more confidence in serve receive. We are very capable of doing just that. It is now time to shift our focus to the next match and keep growing."
Errors, again, hurt Alabama as the Tide had a combined 49 in the match. Neither team hit particularly well, however, with Georgia narrowly edging out Alabama .183-.151. The Bulldogs capitalized in the service ace and block categories collecting eight and 16.5, respectively.
Both Fitterer and senior Kayla Schmidt registered double-doubles in the match as Fitterer tallied 11 kills and 15 digs, while Schmidt collected 27 assists and 11 digs.
The match began close with the lead not reaching more than two points until a late 10-4 run by Georgia gave the red and black a six-point advantage. The Tide was able to cut its deficit to five, but would not get any closer in the set with the Bulldogs taking the first 25-18.
Following a brief 1-0 edge by Georgia, Alabama tacked on a trio of points to take the lead that it would not give up until the Bulldogs recorded a kill to jump back on top 19-18. The Tide responded well rattling off four straight points to seize the lead back for good. A kill by senior Calli Johnson would end the set giving Alabama the 25-22 win to tie the match and one set all heading into intermission.
The third went back and forth throughout as it saw 17 ties and six lead changes. Neither club led for more than two points in the set making for down-to-the-wire finish. With the score even at 24-24, the Tide's Johnson and freshman Brianne Vande Griend delivered a big block to award Alabama set point. A service error following the Georgia timeout would, again, tie the match and give the ball back to the Bulldogs. Georgia would put up consecutive points to win the set 27-25 capitalizing on an attack error and a service ace.
The Tide came out strong in the fourth scoring the first three points, two of which were off kills. The Bulldogs failed to go away easily though and soon took the lead at 6-5 off a kill of their own. From there, Georgia would hold on to the lead throughout the set going up by as many as seven and eventually won 25-17.
Alabama remains on the road taking on Auburn on Sunday, Oct. 3. First serve is slated for 1:30 p.m. CT.
