Georgia Edged by Tennessee in Five-Set Battle, 3-2

Sunday, October 28

Athens, Ga.

2 p.m.

University of Georgia

12-10, 3-8

Tennessee

18-5, 9-2

Tennessee

Georgia

Photo by: John Paul Van Wert

October 28, 2018 | Volleyball

Box Score Tennessee Box Score

ATHENS, Ga. – The University of Georgia volleyball team fell to the Tennessee Volunteers on Sunday afternoon at Stegeman Coliseum in five sets (25-19, 25-21, 19-25, 22-25, 11-15).

Sophomore T'ara Ceasar led Georgia (12-10, 3-8) with 21 kills for the 16^th time this season and earned her eighth 22-point plus match. Sophomore Rachel Ritchie contributed 15 kills, and senior Majesti Bass checked in with a .455 hitting percentage.
"We talked at a really high level I think we were hitting close to .300 as a team and putting service pressure on them, so it is going to lead to good results when you do that," said head coach Tom Black. "I think similar to what we have been taking from other five-set matches I see us getting better, I thought especially the first two sets, things we have been working on are happening and we have to get back to work and keep pushing for those two or three extra points."

To give the Bulldogs the early 2-0 advantage, freshman Mallory Hernandez and Bass teamed up with a block assist. Georgia held the Volunteers to a four-point deficit with a kill from Ceasar to put the Bulldogs up 6-2.

With already four kills up to that point, Ceasar used her first opportunity behind the line to register her 20^th ace of the season, putting the Bulldogs ahead 11-7. Georgia took the set 25-19, hitting .414 as a team. Ceasar highlighted the first set with six kills and a .556 hitting percentage. Ritchie and Hernandez both contributed four kills each.

In the second set, Georgia used a 6-1 run to put another four-point advantage over Tennessee (18-5, 9-2) with a score of 7-3. Bass came in with a kill to give the Bulldogs a 13-9 lead, followed by back-to-back kills for the 18-13 lead. Tennessee closed the gap with a kill by Tessa Grubbs, but Georgia answered the 3-1 run by Tennessee with Ritchie's kill, giving the advantage to the Bulldogs 19-16. The Volunteers held the Bulldogs at match point for two points, but Ceasar ultimately responded with a kill to hand the second game to Georgia, 25-21.

The Volunteers held a close two-point lead in the third set before the Bulldogs responded with two points to tie the contest at five. Tennessee used a 6-1 run to widen the gap to 12-7 over Georgia, holding the lead until a kill from Lily Felts sealed the game for Tennessee at 25-19.

Tennessee took immediate charge of the fourth set to win the first three points to maintain the lead at 7-2. The Volunteers 6-1 run ended with Georgia's Bass getting a kill to make the score 10-4, but a quick response from Addisyn Rowe put the Volunteers up 11-4 over the Bulldogs to keep a steady eight-point lead. Georgia held the Volunteers to match point with an 8-0 run before Tennessee ensured a fifth-set decision, taking the set 25-22 and forcing a fifth frame.

Both teams traded points back-and-forth, ultimately resulting in Tennessee securing the set 15-11 for the match.

Georgia takes it to the road, travelling to Tuscaloosa to face the University of Alabama on November 2 at 8 p.m. ET.