University of Georgia Athletics
University of Georgia
Fairfield
Georgia Volleyball Cruises To Sweep Over Fairfield
September 03, 2010 | Volleyball
Sept. 3, 2010
GREELEY, Colo. - Senior outside hitter Erika Clark posted a team-best 11 kills and eight digs to lead the Georgia volleyball team to a 3-0 sweep over Fairfield on Friday evening in the Northern Colorado Classic.
Georgia notched a .400 hitting percentage as it cruised past Fairfield with set scores of 25-13, 25-14 and 25-16.
"The girls were really excited about the way we played this match and they deserved to feel that way for sure," Georgia head coach Joel McCartney said. "This was the first time we were able to keep the throttle down on an opponent and play emotionally strong for all three sets."
With the win, the Bulldogs improved to 5-0 overall on the year and 2-0 in the Northern Colorado Classic. Georgia won the opening match of the tournament on Friday by defeating the University of Missouri-Kansas City, 3-1 (25-15, 22-25, 25-22, 25-20). Fairfield falls to 1-4 overall with the loss and 1-1 in the Classic after defeating South Dakota, 3-1 (25-23, 27-25, 14-25, 25-18) in match two of the tournament. In other Classic action on Friday, host Northern Colorado (3-2) defeated UMKC (1-5), 3-0 (25-19, 25-12, 25-17). The final match in day one of the tournament will feature Northern Colorado and South Dakota at 9 p.m. ET.
Clark recorded her team-best 11 kills on a .400 hitting percentage while junior Ann Dylla and freshman Brittany Northcutt each added eight kills on identical .467 clips. Junior setter Kathleen Gates paced the offense with 28 assists while also adding seven kills of her own on a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage.
Defensively, the Bulldogs controlled the match with 13.0 blocks and 32 digs compared to the Stags 4.0 blocks and 25 digs. Dylla led the blocking effort with seven stops while Gates added a career-high six. Fairfield was limited to a .011 hitting percentage and just 23 kills.
"We received nice work out of our starting core tonight, but we also got some good relief from our bench," McCartney stated. "It's great to be able to have nice depth this year, and although we have been seeing the pay off in practice, this is the first time it has paid dividends in a match."
On serve, Georgia held a six-to-one edge with four aces coming from freshman Allison Summers.
Also of note for UGA, junior transfer middle hitter Elizabeth Reid made her Bulldog debut recording two kills and one block.
The Northern Colorado Classic will continue and conclude on Saturday with five more matches. Fairfield takes on Northern Colorado at 11 a.m. ET before Georgia hits the court against South Dakota at 1 p.m. UMKC then plays in the following two matches as it squares off against Fairfield at 3:30 p.m. and South Dakota at 8 p.m. In the Classic's final match, Georgia faces host Northern Colorado with first serve at 10 p.m.
"We are hopeful to take both the good and bad from this morning and this evening's matches into tomorrow's play," McCartney noted. "I think the girls are ready for that so we will get some good rest and get after South Dakota in the morning and the UNC tomorrow night."
Match Notes:
· The Georgia-Fairfield meeting was the first time the two programs have played each other in volleyball. All four of Georgia's matches in the Northern Colorado Classic will be the first-ever meeting between the Bulldogs and each respective school.
· Georgia's five-match winning streak to start the 2010 season is the sixth-best season-opening streak in school history. The program's best start came in 1982 when the Bulldogs started on a school-record 25-match winning streak. The second-best season opening winning streak was the 1980's team 10-0 start. Two teams, the 1993 and 1997 squads, started 8-0, and the 1981 team started 6-0.
· The .400 hitting percentage was Georgia's highest mark of the season.
· Gates contributed a career-high six blocks with one solo stop and five assists.
· Clark became the third Bulldog to lead the team in kills through five matches this season.
Northern Colorado Classic Results & Remaining Schedule (All Times Eastern):
Friday, Sept. 3
Georgia def. UMKC, 3-1 (25-15, 22-25, 25-22, 25-20)
Fairfield def. South Dakota, 3-1 (25-23, 27-25, 14-25, 25-18)
Northern Colorado def. UMKC, 3-0 (25-19, 25-12, 25-17)
Georgia def. Fairfield, 3-0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-16)
9 p.m. - South Dakota vs. Northern Colorado
Saturday, Sept. 4
11 a.m. - Fairfield vs. Northern Colorado
1 p.m. - South Dakota vs. Georgia
3:30 p.m. - UMKC vs. Fairfield
8 p.m. - South Dakota vs. UMKC
10 p.m. - Georgia vs. Northern Colorado
