Volleyball Falls in Four Sets to No. 4 Huskers

Friday, September 3

Lincoln, Neb.

7:00 p.m.

University of Georgia

3-2,0-0SEC

Nebraska

4-0,0-0Big Ten

Georgia

Nebraska

September 03, 2021 | Volleyball

Box Score

LINCOLN, Neb. – The University of Georgia women's volleyball team dropped a four-set decision at fourth-ranked Nebraska Friday evening (25-19, 21-25, 22-25, 16-25) at the Devaney Center.

Junior Kacie Evans led all attackers in the match with 16 kills, followed by 11 from fellow junior Amber Stivrins. Senior Kayla Rivera fell just shy of the double-digit kill mark with nine.

Defensively, sophomore libero Mallory Downing picked up nine digs. Sophomore Phoebe Awoleye, freshman Mackenzie Norris, and Rivera each put up five blocks.

Georgia (3-2) jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the opening set, but Nebraska (4-0) powered back to win seven of the next eight points to find a 9-5 lead and force a Georgia timeout. Following the quick break, the Bulldogs responded with a 5-1 run to tie the set at 10-all. Three-straight put the Bulldogs ahead 15-13. Back-to-back blocks and a Claire Rothenberger ace widened the lead to 20-15 for Georgia. The Bulldogs held on to keep the Huskers at bay and took the opening set, 25-19. Evans led all attackers in the opening set with five kills while hitting .571. Georgia combined for four services aces in the opening frame.

Once again, Georgia took an early lead in the second set, finding a 9-5 advantage. Nebraska regrouped to go on a 6-1 run to capture a 13-12 lead. After that, the Bulldogs and Huskers went point-for-point. Tied at 21, Nebraska retook the lead and forced a Georgia timeout. The Huskers won the next three out of the timeout to take the second set and knot the match, 25-21.

Nebraska found itself ahead 7-4 to open the third, but Georgia worked to tie it up at 10. The Bulldogs found a 13-12 lead on a Clara Brower kill, but Nebraska came back to retake its lead, 16-14. Georgia cut it to one at 19-18 then again at 23-22, but a couple unforced errors from Georgia allowed the Huskers to take the set 25-22.

The fourth set was all Huskers, drawing match point at 24-12. Georgia didn't go easy, winning the next four points to keep the match alive. The mountain was too much in the end as the Huskers won the set 25-16 and the match in four sets.

The Bulldogs are back in action Saturday at 4:30 p.m., ET, from Lincoln when they take on Omaha to end play at the Ameritas Players Challenge.