Evans Guides Georgia to Five-Set Win at Missouri

Friday, October 28

Columbia, Mo.

2:00 p.m.

University of Georgia

Missouri

October 28, 2022 | Volleyball

Box Score

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Georgia women's volleyball team defeated the Missouri Tigers in five sets at Hearnes Center Friday afternoon to open its two-match road series (14-25, 25-16, 25-21, 17-25, 15-11).

Georgia has won four-straight matches and climbs to 16-5 on the season and 7-3 in SEC play.

Senior outside hitter Kacie Evans was the lone Bulldog to tip the double-digit kill mark with 17 to lead the Georgia attack.

The Bulldogs shined at the service line with nine aces in the match. Redshirt-sophomore Mackenzie Norris led the charge with three while Alexa Fortin, Bailey Cox, and Amber Stivrins all added two apiece.

Junior Sophie Fischer put up eight kills with nine blocks in the contest. Likewise, senior Meghan Froemming recorded eight kills with six blocks. As a team, Georgia recorded 15 blocks.

Missouri (8-12, 1-9) forced Georgia to exhaust both its timeouts early in the opening set as the Bulldogs fell behind 13-6. The Tigers kept their foot on the gas and took the first set 25-14.

The Bulldogs found a quick 5-2 lead in the second set; however, Missouri responded with six-straight points to go ahead 8-5 and force a Georgia timeout. The Dogs battled back to knot the set at 12, then went on a nine-point run to open a 21-13 lead on the Tigers. Georgia held on to win the set 25-16, evening the match. Georgia hit .308 in the second after hitting .091 in the first. Froemming and Evans each put down five kills.

Set three began neck-and-neck before a 3-0 Georgia run opened a 12-9 lead, prompting a Missouri timeout. Georgia held on, never relinquishing the lead in the third, winning the set 25-21, and going ahead 2-1 in the match.

Knotted at eight in the fourth, Missouri used a 5-1 run to take a four-point lead, prompting a Georgia break. The Dogs cut it to 13-11 after the timeout, but errors opened the door for Missouri to go ahead 16-11, exhausting Georgia's timeouts. Missouri kept Georgia at bay in the set, taking the frame 25-17, and forcing a fifth set.

The fifth set began closely contested as Georgia held an 8-7 advantage at the end change. A Missouri error and a Fischer kill opened a 10-7 lead for the Bulldogs. Missouri cut the lead to two, twice, but Georgia held on to win the set 15-11 and the match. Fischer concluded the match with four kills in the final set.

Georgia and Missouri square off again on Saturday in Columbia. First serve from Hearnes Center is set for 2 p.m., ET, on SEC Network+.