VB: Ceasar Records 28 Kills in Five-Set Loss to Aggies

Sunday, October 14

Athens, Ga.

2 p.m.

University of Georgia

12-7, 3-5

Texas A&M

12-7, 5-2

Texas A&M

Georgia

Photo by: Steffenie Burns

VB: Ceasar Records 28 Kills in Five-Set Loss to Aggies

October 14, 2018 | Volleyball

Box Score Texas A&M Box Score

ATHENS, Ga. – Sophomore outside hitter T'ara Ceasar recorded a career-high 28 kills in Georgia's five-set loss to Texas A&M (12-7, 5-2) Sunday at Stegeman Coliseum (26-20, 20-25, 22-25, 25-23, 12-15).

In eight Southeastern Conference matches this season, Georgia (12-7, 3-5) has gone to five sets in six of eight matches.

"Today was a tough match, very hard fought. I think Texas A&M made a few more plays than us," said head coach Tom Black. "T'ara got a lot more swings in. She was swinging hard and deep and was really consistent about it. It's been a tough part of the schedule, so it'll be great to get a couple days off and get a really good week of practice in. Hopefully this will be like a reset button for us."

Offensively, Ceasar recorded her seventh 20-kill match and ninth double-double with 28 kills and 11 digs. Ceasar's kill mark is the most by a Bulldog since Maria Taylor had 32 at Duke on Sept. 6, 2008. Rachel Ritchie tipped the double-digit kill mark with 12.

Meghan Donovan set a new career high with five services aces. She also earned a double-double, her ninth, with 52 assists and 10 digs. As a team, Georgia had 12 aces on the day, the most since recording 15 against North Carolina on Sept. 9.

The opening set featured nine ties to begin the match. Georgia led by as much as three in the set. Tied at 21, Georgia sided out to take a 23-21 lead; however, the Aggies went on a 3-0 run to draw set point at 24-23, forcing Georgia to use its second timeout. Ritchie came out of the timeout with a kill and an ace to draw set point for the Bulldogs and force a break from the Aggie bench. Ceasar's sixth kill of the set secured the opening frame for Georgia, 26-24. Kianna Young and Ritchie each had four kills in the opening stanza.

It was all Texas A&M in the second set after the Aggies opened the set with a 4-1 lead. Georgia used a timeout with the Aggies ahead 11-6 then proceeded to open a 4-0 run and pull within one, 11-10. Georgia stayed close on the Aggies' heels but never found a lead. Tied at 18, the Aggies won three-straight to go ahead late and fuel a late-set serge en route to a 25-20 win to tie up the match at a set apiece.

The third set mirrored the second set as Georgia played catch-up to the Aggies the whole set. Georgia tied it up three times, but Texas A&M never gave up the lead in the frame. Down 22-18, the Bulldogs went on a 4-0 run to knot the frame up late at 22. Texas A&M responded with three-straight to capture a 2-1 lead in the match, 25-22. Ceasar added seven kills in the set.

Georgia trailed much of the fourth set but never fell out of striking distance as the set was tied eight times. Down 20-17, Georgia used a 7-1 run to draw set point at 24-21, capped by an ace from Glover. The Aggies sided out to cut the lead to one then Ceasar's 24^thkill sealed the set, 25-23, tying a career best for the sophomore.

The Bulldogs and Aggies traded points much of the fifth set with eight ties. Georgia led the first half. Texas A&M found its first lead at the end change, 8-7. The Aggies never gave up the lead all the way to a 15-12 set five win.

Georgia returns to action next Sunday for a nationally-televised match on the SEC Network at South Carolina. First serve from Columbia is slated for 3 p.m.