University of Georgia Athletics
UGA Volleyball Defeats Tennessee 3-2
November 11, 2001 | Volleyball
Nov. 11, 2001
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ----- The Georgia volleyball team ended its four-match losing streak on Sunday, defeating the Tennessee Lady Vols in five games, 3-2 (22-30, 30-28, 30-27, 26-30, 15-12), before 266 fans at the Stokely Athletics Center in Knoxville, Tenn. For the second consecutive match the Bulldogs (11-12, 5-9 SEC) had four players tally double-figures in kills, led by junior outside hitter Stacy Buerger, who had 20 kills to go along with 11 digs and three block assists. Right behind Buerger was senior middle blocker Erin Gornes, who had 17 kills on .412 hitting efficiency, which led all players in the match. Also recording double-digits in kills for Georgia, which had a season-best 81 digs, were sophomore outside hitter Luresa Forsythe, who had 14 kills and led all players in the match with a career-best 22 digs, and senior middle blocker Kristine Keese, who had 11 kills, a career-best 18 digs and five block assists. Also giving Georgia a big spark in the win was freshman setter Margot Wallace, who tallied a career benchmark in assists for the second time in as many matches with 62. The Lady Vols (15-10, 7-7 SEC), who out hit Georgia .212-.145, were led by a trio of players who had double figures in kills led by freshman outside hitter Whitney Gifford and senior outside hitter Ariana Wilson, who had 18 kills each. The former also had 16 digs to lead her team and also led her team in hitting percentage (.394) to go along with four block assists. Also helping the Lady Vols' effort was junior middle blocker Jannelle Hester, who recorded 13 kills and four block assists. For Georgia, the victory over Tennessee ended a five-match losing streak to the Lady Vols, which goes back to 1999. The Bulldogs return to action on Friday (11:30 a.m. ET) when they compete against the Florida Gators in the first round of the 2001 SEC Volleyball Tournament. The Bulldogs, which made it to the semifinals of last year's tourney, will be the No. 8 seed heading into the tournament while Florida will be the No. 1 seed.
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