Bulldogs Drop Four-Set Decision to LSU

Friday, November 26

Athens, Ga.

2:00 p.m.

University of Georgia

11-17,7-10SEC

LSU

13-13,9-8SEC

LSU

Georgia

November 26, 2021 | Volleyball

Box Score

ATHENS, Ga. – The University of Georgia women's volleyball team fell in four sets to open its series against LSU at Stegeman Coliseum Friday afternoon (21-25, 19-25, 25-20, 19-25).

Georgia offense was led by junior Kacie Evans and senior Kayla Rivera with 13 and 12 kills, respectively. Rivera hit a career-best .556 in the match. Junior Amber Stivrins also topped the double-digit kill mark with 10. She tallied two service aces in the match.

Defensively, freshman libero Bailey Cox put up 16 digs against the Tigers. On the net, sophomore Phoebe Awoleye had a match-best five blocks.

The Tigers jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in the opening set, but Georgia worked to even the early deficit. Down 12-10, three-straight from the Bulldogs gave Georgia (11-17, 7-10) its first lead capped by a Stivrins ace, 13-12. Back-to-back kills from Rivera put Georgia in front 20-19 before LSU (13-13, 9-8) recaptured a 21-20 advantage, prompting a Georgia break. The Tigers were able to hold on to the late lead and took the opening set 25-21.

A 5-1 LSU run opened an 11-6 lead in set two. The Bulldogs worked to cut the deficit to two with a 3-0 run, 12-10, but LSU took the next three and reopened a 15-10 lead, forcing a Georgia break. LSU kept the Bulldogs at arm's length the remainder of the set, rolling to a 25-19 set two win and a 2-0 lead in the match. Rivera tallied five kills in the second set.

Down 11-9 in the third, a 6-1 Georgia run put the Bulldogs ahead 15-12 heading into the third set media break. Another Georgia run, this time of three-straight, put the Bulldogs ahead by four, 19-15. The set concluded nearly point-for-point, but Georgia held on to take the frame 25-20 to keep the match alive in Athens. Evans recorded six kills for the Bulldogs in the third.

LSU took an early lead and built on it to go ahead by eight on the Bulldogs, 18-10. Georgia responded by taking six-of-seven rallies to narrow the Tigers' lead to 19-16. That would be the closest the Bulldogs would get as LSU took the fourth 25-19 and the match in four sets.

Georgia will close the 2021 season Saturday afternoon at Stegeman Coliseum in a rematch with LSU. First serve is slated for 2 p.m. with senior day ceremonies prior to the match.

Head Coach Tom Black
On the team's performance…
"I thought we made a good response in that third set. Just some plays that we're capable of executing that we weren't able to today. We look to doing that tomorrow."

On what specifically needs to be cleaned up in tomorrow's match…
"Tons of stuff. Just lots of plays within the rally that we need to be able to better that ball. We need to keep passing and setting more off the net, so we can get the swings that we want."

On what he hopes from the last match of the season…
"Like I said, we just need to execute a lot better. I think our serve receive will be a lot better tomorrow. I thought block defensively, our block and our serving were pretty good. I think we'll dig and few more balls and keep it a little bit more simple tomorrow. I think we'll be better tomorrow."

Senior opposite Kayla Rivera
On the team's performance…
"I feel like we needed to clean up a few more simple plays and execute on those because when we're in system, we're pretty hard to stop. LSU is a pretty good team, and they are also hard to stop in system as well."

On what she hopes to accomplish is the last game of the season…
"I just hope that, being my last game, I'm able to execute on anything that I can contribute in and be super aggressive in all the plays that I'm a part of. I just hope to give my all, so I don't look back and regret anything."

On how she would characterize the season and her career at Georgia…
"Probably the most eventful four years of my life and super fun. I love playing volleyball, and I met some of the most incredible people ever. I wouldn't change it for anything."