Bulldogs Return to Stegeman to Host Aggies Friday, Saturday

Georgia (4-10, 4-10 SEC)
vs.Texas A&M (8-4, 8-4 SEC)
Dates: Friday, March 12; Saturday, March 13, 2021
Times: Friday – 7 p.m., ET; Saturday – 7 p.m., ET
Location: Athens, Ga.
Arena: Stegeman Coliseum
     Admission: FREE (no tickets required)

Media Information
Streaming Video: SEC Network+
     Play-by-play: Kaleb Frady
     Analysis: Nikkie Chester
Live Stats: GeorgiaDogs.com
Twitter: @UGAvolleyball

First Serve
After two weeks away from competition, the Georgia volleyball team returns to Stegeman Coliseum this week to host a pair of matches against Texas A&M. The Bulldogs and Aggies and will serve it up at Stegeman at 7 p.m. both Friday and Saturday.

Follow the Bulldogs
» Both matches against the Aggies will stream live on SEC Network+. Kaleb Frady and Nikki Chester will be on the call.
» Live stat links can be found on the volleyball schedule on GeorgiaDogs.com.
» Twitter updates will be available all season long on the official Twitter page of the Bulldogs, @UGAvolleyball.

COVID-19 Fan Policies and Procedures at Stegeman Coliseum
Volleyball matches at Stegeman Coliseum will be open to the public in 2021. Admission is free and tickets are not required for entry. Following the University of Georgia COVID-19 on-campus policy, fans will be required to wear face coverings at all times while in Stegeman Coliseum and social distancing measures will be practiced. Only cashless payments will be accepted at Stegeman this season for concessions.

BULLDOGS BULLETIN
Series History
- Georgia trails the all-time series with Texas A&M 3-18
- Eight matches of the series have been played in Athens, with Texas A&M winning six of them
- Georgia has lost 13-straight meetings with the Aggies
- Georgia has not beaten Texas A&M in 11 meetings since the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012

Up Next
The Bulldogs will head to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for a two-match series with LSU March 19 and 20. It will be the final scheduled road series for Georgia this season. Georgia will then host Ole Miss in the final scheduled series of 2020-21 March 24 and 25 at Stegeman Coliseum.

Block Party in Athens
Following seasons of ranking toward the bottom of the conference in blocking, Georgia has had a renewed focus on that area of its play this season. Georgia has ranked in the top half this season in the category with 2.22 blocks per set. Georgia put up over 3.0 blocks per set against Arkansas (22 blocks in seven sets). Freshman Phoebe Awoleye is a top-10 blocker in the league, averaging a block per set.

13 Land on Fall SEC Honor Roll
The Georgia volleyball team placed 13 student-athletes on the 2020 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll. Phoebe Awoleye, Brynn Chandler, Kacie Evans, Alexa Fortin, Meghan Froemming, Londyn Gray, Dalaney Hans, Mallory Hernandez, Sage Naves, Rachel Ritchie, Kayla Rivera, Claire Rothenberger, Kianna Young all earned the academic distinction.

SEC Spring Volleyball Format
The spring schedule will follow the format the SEC used for the fall: two matches against the same opponent in the same week on back-to-back days. Teams will play eight conference opponents for a total of 16 matches with four series at home and four on the road. The schedule includes a week at the end of the season for any makeups matches for all schools.

Three Bulldogs Earn Degrees
A trio of Georgia volleyball student-athletes earned their undergraduate degrees in December. Brynn Chandler (Communications Studies), Rachel Ritchie (English), and Kianna Young (Biological Engineering) all earned their diplomas from UGA. All three have began work towards their Masters degree from UGA.

Evans Named SEC Def. Player of the Week
Sophomore Kacie Evans was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 23. Evans led the team with 3.88 digs per set in Georgia's two-match series at No. 5 Florida, tallying double-digit digs in both matches. Evans picked up 14 digs in Friday's 3-1 upset of the Gators and topped it on Saturday with a career-best 17 digs. She also took 30 service receptions, committing only one reception error. She native also had an impressive offensive performance in both matches in Gainesville, registering 3.38 kills per set. She recorded double-doubles in both matches with 12 and 15 kills, respectively.

History in Gainesville
Georgia volleyball made history on Nov. 21 in Gainesville, Florida when the Bulldogs defeated then-No. 5 Florida, 3-1, snapping a 19-match losing streak to the Gators. Not only was it the first win against Florida since 2008, it was the first win in Gainesville since Nov. 7, 1986, and the first win over a top-10 opponent since the same win against Florida in 2008 when the Gators were ranked No. 8 in Athens. It became the program's highest-ever ranked win and first over a top-5 opponent. The win was the 10th all-time against Florida in 77 meetings.

Bulldogs Ink Five in Early Signing Period
The Bulldogs announced the signing of five student-athletes during the early signing period last week. The class includes Maxpreps First Team All-American setter Clara Brower, libero Bailey Cox, middle blocker Kaitlin Fournier, and outside hitters Under Armour All-American honorable mention Abby Maesch and Lyric Stewart.

Clara Brower joined the Bulldogs in January as an early enrollee. Brower will be considered a mid-season enrollee and will not be eligible to play in Spring 2021, but can take part in team activities and practice.

Stivrins Shines on Opening Weekend
Sophomore outside hitter Amber Stivrins put together a strong performance in her first weekend as a Bulldog against South Carolina. Stivrins concluded the weekend with 34 kills, including a career-high 26 coming in Sunday's match (second all-time in a four-set match). She hit .564 in that match. She also put up a team-best 20 digs over the weekend while recording three aces.

Black Notches 300th Career Victory
Head coach Tom Black, in his 16th season as a head coach, recorded his 300th-career victory on Sunday, Oct. 18 with a four-set victory over South Carolina. Black is fifth among the active head coaches in the SEC behind Mary Wise (Florida), Fran Flory (LSU), Craig Skinner (Kentucky), and Lindsey Devine (Alabama).

Bulldogs Return to Stegeman to Host Aggies Friday, Saturday

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Players Mentioned

Phoebe Awoleye

Clara Brower

Brynn Chandler

Kacie Evans

Alexa Fortin

Meghan Froemming

Londyn Gray

Dalaney Hans

Mallory Hernandez

Sage Powell

Rachel Ritchie

Kayla Rivera

Claire Rothenberger

Amber Stivrins

Kianna Young

University of Georgia Athletics