Bulldogs Set to Host South Carolina, Alabama at Stegeman

Georgia (15-11, 6-8)
vs. South Carolina (10-14, 4-11)
Date: Friday, Nov. 17, 2023
First Serve: 7 p.m., ET
Location: Athens, Ga.
Arena: Stegeman Coliseum
Admission: FREE (no tickets required)

Media Information
Streaming: SEC Network+
   Play-by-play: Kaleb Frady
   Analysis: Nikki Nicholson Chester
Live Stats: GeorgiaDogs.com
Twitter/X: @UGAvolleyball

vs. Alabama (10-16, 0-15)
Date: Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023
First Serve: 2 p.m., ET
Location: Athens, Ga.
Arena: Stegeman Coliseum

Media Information
Streaming: SEC Network+
   Play-by-play: Dave Weinstein
   Analysis: Nikki Nicholson Chester
Live Stats: GeorgiaDogs.com
Twitter/X: @UGAvolleyball

First Serve
Georgia volleyball begins the final stretch of the 2023 regular season at home this weekend, hosting South Carolina and Alabama at Stegeman Coliseum.

The Bulldogs and Gamecocks begin at 7 p.m. Friday evening. Sunday's match between Georgia and Alabama is set for 2 p.m.

Follow the Bulldogs
» Both matches will stream live on SEC Network+. Kaleb Frady and Dave Weinstein (play-by-play) and Nikki Nicholson Chester (analysis) will be on the call.
» Live stat links can be found on the volleyball schedule on GeorgiaDogs.com.
» Twitter/X updates will be available all season long on the official page of the Bulldogs, @UGAvolleyball.

Upcoming Promotions and Fan Information at Stegeman
Fan Information
» Admission is FREE to all regular-season home volleyball matches.
» The first 28 fans to enter through Gate A at Stegeman Coliseum will receive a wristband and can sit court side. Food and beverage will be provided.
» The SEC Clear Bag Policy will be in effect.
» All concessions and merchandise transactions are cashless/contactless.
     - Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover are accepted.

BULLDOGS BULLETIN
Series Histories
South Carolina
- Georgia leads the all-time series 51-27; 35-25 since South Carolina joined the SEC in 1991
- The Bulldogs are 24-12 in Athens against South Carolina
- In the Tom Black era, Georgia is 4-6; of those 10 matches, six have gone the distance to five sets
- Georgia dropped a four-set decision earlier this season in Columbia on Oct. 11
Alabama
- Georgia leads the all-time series 33-27
- The Bulldogs are 115-12 against the Tide in Athens
- Since Tom Black came to Athens in 2017, Georgia has won 10 of 11 meetings against the Tide including the last five-straight meetings

Recapping Action
Georgia went on the road last weekend to take on a pair of ranked opponents at the top of the SEC. The Bulldogs came out strong against No. 10 Tennessee, but ultimately fell in four sets on Rocky Top. The road swing concluded at No. 13 Kenutcky on Sunday. Georgia fell in straight sets in Lexington to the SEC-leading Wildcats.

A Look at What's Ahead
The final week of the regular season begins Wednesday, Nov. 22 in Baton Rouge when the Bulldogs travel to play LSU. First serve on SEC Network is set for 8 p.m., ET. The Bulldogs wrap up the regular season at Stegeman Coliseum Saturday, Nov. 25 when the Missouri Tigers roll into Athens for a 2 p.m. matchup.

Last Time Against South Carolina
Georgia fell to South Carolina on Oct. 11 in four sets in Columbia (22-25, 25-20, 18-25, 16-25). Kacie Evans and Sophie Fischer co-led the Bulldogs' offense with 15 kills each in the match. Fischer put up a team-best five blocks on the net coupled with her offensive performance. Bailey Cox tied a career-best four aces in the contest. Clara Brower put up seven digs to lead the Bulldogs in the category followed by six each from Estelle Haugen and Mallory Downing.

Coaching Connection
Alabama head coach and former Georgia Bulldog Rashinda Reed will make her return to Athens this weekend. Reed wore the Red & Black from 2002 to 2004, graduating in 2005 with her degree in psychology. Reed led the Bulldogs in blocks in 2002 and 2003. Reed and the Bulldogs made an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2004 at Georgia Tech.

Bulldogs Sign Georgia Natives Emma Duffield, MK Patten
Head coach Tom Black announced the signing of Georgia natives Emma Duffield and Molly Kate (MK) Patten on Wednesday, Nov. 8. Duffield, a 6-1 outside from Atlanta garnered AVCA Second Team All-America status this past season. Patten is a 6-5 middle/opposite from Alpharetta and is rated a top 25 player in the country. Both play for A5.

The Nation's Highest Scoring Middle
Middle blocker Sophie Fischer currently leads the SEC in points per set (5.22) and in total points (501.5). Nationally, she ranks 11th in points per set and is the nation's highest scoring middle. Her 4.09 kills per set ranks fourth in the league and her 1.32 blocks per set ranks second. Her 0.4 aces per set also cracked the top 10 in the SEC, ranking fourth.

Lending a Helping Hand
Setter Clara Brower ranks fifth in the SEC with 10.18 assists per set this season. In her third season running the offense, Brower now ranks ninth all-time in total assists with over 2,400 in her career. As Georgia has run a 5-1 offense this season, Brower has recorded nine double-doubles and has a 2.36 digs per set average.

Welcome to the Double Grand Club
In the first set at Auburn on Oct. 1, Kacie Evans recorded her 1,000th career dig, becoming the 22nd member of Georgia's 1,000 Dig Club. Additionally, she also secured Double Grand Club status with her more than 1,500 career kills, becoming Georgia's 15th all-time member of that club.

Currently with 1,998.5 career points, Evans is on track to join all-time greats Priscilla Pacheco (3,018.0), Julia Petruschke (2,264.5), Nikki Nicholson (2,157.0), and Maria Taylor (2,020.0) in the 2,000 Point Club. She now ranks fifth all time in career kills with 1,721. She also ranks top 10 in career sets played, attacks, aces, and total points.

Aces Wild
After strong matches at the service line recently, Georgia has risen to second in the SEC with a 1.71 aces per set average. The Dogs' 164 total aces is third. Sophie Fischer (0.4), Clara Brower (0.32), and Bailey Cox (0.32) each appear in the top 10 in the SEC in the category.

Bulldogs Set to Host South Carolina, Alabama at Stegeman

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Clara Brower

Bailey Cox

Mallory Downing

Kacie Evans

Sophie Fischer

Estelle Haugen

University of Georgia Athletics