Bulldogs’ Comeback Falls Short in 3-1 Loss to Alabama

Saturday, November 7

Athens, Ga.

2:00 p.m.

University of Georgia

2-3,2-3SEC

Alabama

1-4,1-4SEC

Alabama

Georgia

Bulldogs’ Comeback Falls Short in 3-1 Loss to Alabama

November 07, 2020 | Volleyball

Box Score PDF Box Score 11720

ATHENS, Ga. – The University of Georgia women's volleyball team fell to Alabama Saturday afternoon in four sets at Stegeman Coliseum (23-25, 19-25, 25-21, 23-25).

Georgia won the third set to avoid a sweep and led down the stretch of the fourth set, but a late Alabama run stole the set and match away from the Bulldogs.

Sophomore Amber Stivrins notched her third 20-kill match in the last four outings, registering 24 on Saturday. She fell a dig short of a double-double, finishing with nine. Senior Rachel Ritchie topped the double-digit kill mark with 10.

Defensively, senior Brynn Chandler and redshirt-junior libero Claire Rothenberger co-led the team with 12 digs. Chandler's 17 assists was good enough for her third-straight double-double. Fellow setter Dalaney Hans dished out 21 assists.

Georgia out-blocked its opponent for the first time this season, putting up 14 team blocks, the most in the Tom Black era. Freshman Phoebe Awoleye had six blocks, a season high.

The Bulldogs surged to an early 7-1 lead to begin the match. Stivrins opened the match with three kills and a block. With the Bulldogs ahead 13-6, Alabama rattled off an 8-1 run to tie up the set at 14 all. Down 20-18, Alabama used a 5-1 run to take a 23-21 lead down the stretch. Alabama was able to hold on to come back at take the opening stanza, 25-23. Stivrins recorded seven kills in the first set.

Tied at 10 in set two, Alabama used a 6-1 run to force a second Georgia timeout. Down 21-14, Georgia strung together a 4-1 run to narrow the deficit and force a Tide timeout, 22-18. A pair of Bulldog errors after the timeout gave Alabama set point. The Tide took a two-set lead with a 25-19 win in set two.

Down 6-5, a 6-0 run for the Bulldogs opened an 11-6 lead on the Tide in set three. Georgia was able to keep a comfortable lead the rest of the set. After a Bulldogs timeout, leading 23-16, Alabama kept the set alive with a 5-1 run. Ritchie's seventh kill sealed the set for the Bulldogs, 25-21, evading a sweep by Alabama.

The fourth set featured seven ties and five lead changes, the most of the match. Down 14-12, Georgia strung together a 4-0 run to take a 16-14 lead. Tied against 16, Georgia took four of the next five to open a four-point lead. The Bulldogs led 23-20 before Alabama went on a 5-0 run to steal the set, 25-23, and the match.

The Bulldogs and Crimson Tide conclude the two-match series Sunday at 2 p.m. at Stegeman Coliseum. The match will air on SEC Network. Prior to first serve, Georgia will honor its senior class.

Head Coach Tom Black
On taking the energy from sets three and four into Sunday's match...
"It's our job to play that hard. It shouldn't be a surprise when our intensity gets down, it should be up all the time. That's what we expect."

On senior day and what he wants the team to bring...
"We need to come out and play hard. That's an inherent expectation, so I expect us to come out for every point. If we do that, good things will happen."

Senior Rachel Ritchie
On the match...
"I think it's just knowing how strong when we play together, and we play as a team. A lot of the times, some people are struggling, and some people are playing great, and it seems like two different teams. As long as we can come together and pick each other up, we'll be good."