University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia Volleyball Defeated In Four At Alabama
October 14, 2007 | Volleyball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. --- The Georgia volleyball squad took the first game in Sunday’s Southeastern Conference meeting with Alabama, but the Crimson Tide then took the next three games to win the match 3-1 at the Cave.
The Bulldogs (13-7, 4-6 SEC) took the first game by a 32-30 margin, but then the Crimson Tide (10-9, 7-3 SEC) posted game scores of 30-24, 30-23 and 30-16 for the victory. Alabama recorded a hitting percentage of .271 for the match, while Georgia hit a .181 mark.
Georgia’s top performers in the match were outside hitters junior Maria Taylor and freshman Erika Clark, who each posted a double-double. Taylor had a team-best 17 kills to go along with 12 digs for her seventh double-double of the season, while Clark achieved the feat for a fifth time on the year by recording 11 kills and tying senior libero Renee Johnson for a team-best 14 digs.
Alabama was led by a pair of seniors in middle blocker Crystal Hudson and outside hitter Bridget Fuentez. Hudson had a match-high 20 kills on a .548 hitting percentage, while Fuentez posted a double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs.
In game one, the Bulldogs led by as many as seven at 13-6, but the Crimson Tide would battle back to go up by three at 27-24. Alabama then had Georgia at game-point at 30-29, but the Bulldogs rallied on a 3-0 run with a kill from Clark, an ace from Johnson and a kill from freshman middle hitter Valentina Gonzalez to take the game 32-30.
Georgia took a quick 5-1 lead in the second game, but Alabama went up at 10-9. The Crimson Tide was up five at 16-11 before the Bulldogs managed to pull within one at 23-22; however, Alabama held on to take the game 30-24.
The third game remained close throughout the first half, but with an 18-15 lead Alabama went on a 6-0 run to make it a 24-15 advantage en route to winning the game 30-23.
Alabama then started the fourth game on a 4-0 run and would hit a .405 clip to take the game 30-16.
The Bulldogs will return home to the Ramsey Center for their next two contests. Georgia will play host to the South Carolina Gamecocks on Friday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. ET and the Florida Gators on Sunday, Oct. 21 at 2 p.m.
