Bulldogs Defeat Tennessee in Five-Set Thriller, 3-2

Thursday, October 29

Knoxville, Tenn.

7:00 p.m.

University of Georgia

2-2,2-2SEC

Tennessee

1-3,1-3SEC

Georgia

Tennessee

Photo by: Chamberlain Smith

Bulldogs Defeat Tennessee in Five-Set Thriller, 3-2

October 29, 2020 | Volleyball

Box Score

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Georgia women's volleyball team rebounded after a loss on Wednesday to defeat the Tennessee Lady Vols Thursday evening in five sets, 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 25-18, 15-25, 15-13).

Sophomore Amber Stivrins once again led the Bulldog offense with 20 kills. She also tallied 13 digs for her first double-double as a Bulldog. Senior Rachel Ritchie also topped the double-digit kill mark with 16 while Kayla Rivera performed well with nine kills Thursday.

"I'm so proud of the ladies for pulling out a very difficult, hard-fought match," head coach Tom Black said. "Amber and Rachel carried big offensive loads and Phoebe's blocking came on in a huge way when we needed it. They pulled together as a team and found a way. It's awesome to watch them grow through moments like these, especially in response to a match we weren't happy about the day before."

Defensively, redshirt-junior Claire Rothenberger picked up a career-high 19 digs and added six assists with an ace. A night after earning her first career double-double, senior setter Brynn Chandler did it again with 25 assists and 16 digs, both career highs. Fellow setter Dalaney Hans narrowly missed her what would have been her career double-double, concluding the match with 17 assists and a career-high nine digs with a pair of service aces.

On the net, junior Sage Naves had five total blocks for the Bulldogs including three solo blocks. Freshman Phoebe Awoleye's three blocks in the final set helped drive the Bulldogs' late run.

The opening stanza was closely contested as the set featured 15 total ties. Georgia (2-2) led much of the set and was the first to 20 as Tennessee (1-3) took its final timeout down 20-18. After the Lady Vol timeout, Tennessee went on a 4-1 run to take a 22-21 lead. Georgia tied it back up at 22 but Tennessee took three of the next four rallies to swipe the set away from the Bulldogs. Ritchie and Rivera each tallied four kills in the opening set.

An 8-0 Georgia run early in set two gave the Bulldogs a 13-7 lead, but Tennessee fought to narrow the early deficit and eventually tie the frame at 16. Georgia was able to keep the lead at 23-20 but Tennessee wouldn't go away, winning three-straight to tie it at 23. A Naves block and a Stivrins kill wrapped up the set for Georgia, 25-23, and tied the match at a set each. Stivrins finished the set with six kills.

Georgia kept the moment on its side in the third set and never trailed en route to a 25-18 win. Three early kills from Stivrins fueled a quick 7-2 lead for the Bulldogs. Tennessee cut it to two at 16-14, prompting a timeout from the Georgia bench. Four kills from Ritchie and a pair from Naves helped guide Georgia to the win and a 2-1 lead in the match. Ritchie's four late kills brought her tally in the third to six, match Stivrins' kill count in the second.

The fourth set was all Tennessee after jumping out to a very early lead and forcing Georgia to use both timeouts very quickly. A 6-0 run opened a 17-8 lead for the Lady Vols, and Tennessee rode the big lead to a 25-15 set win to force a fifth set.

Georgia found itself up 7-3 in the final set, but Tennessee roared back with a 7-0 run to take a 10-7 lead and Georgia called timeout. After the break, the Bulldogs strung together a 7-1 run to retake the lead and draw match point, 14-11. Tennessee won the next two points to keep the match alive, but a kill from Awoleye secured the victory for Georgia, 15-13.

Up next, the Bulldogs return home for their final home matches of the season Nov. 7-8 when the Alabama Crimson Tide comes to Stegeman Coliseum. Both matches will begin at 2 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. Masks are required and social distancing measures will be in place.