University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: Madison Keel/UGAAA
At Home On The Road
October 16, 2025 | Volleyball, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
The Georgia volleyball team heads into Friday night's 10K Day matchup at Stegeman Coliseum against Alabama riding a three-match win streak. All three of those victories have come on the road this month, during the most difficult stretch of the Bulldogs' schedule.
After winning two out of three matches at the Steg during the Bulldog Classic from Sept. 12-14, Georgia (11-5, 3-3 SEC) has played six of its last seven on the road. And that seven-match stretch included four straight against teams ranked at the time: No. 23 Georgia Tech, No. 22 Tennessee, No. 3 Kentucky — all on the road — and a home match against No. 2 Texas.
Georgia knocked off Tech in five sets on Sept. 19, before falling to the Volunteers, Wildcats and Longhorns. On Oct. 5, the Bulldogs began their three-match road swing with a four-set win at South Carolina. That was followed last weekend by wins at Arkansas and Oklahoma, both in four sets.
Outside hitter Bianna Muoneke, who leads the Bulldogs with 211 kills this season, said she learned something important about this team during the tough stretch it just endured.
"I think just how tough we are," Muoneke said. "I think it's really hard to get on buses, get on planes, go to practice, and not be able to sleep in your own bed — just being in a different environment all the time. And the fact that we were able to overcome that and go out and play like we did, I think it's just so impressive. I'm really proud of everyone."
Muoneke had a combined 36 kills in the wins over South Carolina, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Fellow outside hitter Estelle Haugen added 18 over the three wins.
"I think what it does is it just reveals how passionate and motivated the team is," Haugen said of playing on the road. "We always talk about, whatever gym we're in, we make it our home gym. I think that's one thing that we really took with us on the road: how can we make this environment and the momentum ours?
"I do think it's cool to have only your team there, like, that's all you've got, and knowing that that's who you're going into battle with is kind of inspiring on the road. It's awesome to get those road wins, and it's going to be great to come back home and have support, as well."
The challenges of competing on the road, especially multi-day trips, aren't confined to just playing in an unfamiliar arena in front of the opponent's fans. There are sometimes long bus rides, like from Fayetteville, Ark., to Norman, Okla.; there is treatment and maintenance that has to be done to tend to nagging injuries during the course of a long season; there is team preparation for the next match; and there is finding time to get all of their schoolwork done.
"I'm graduating in December, and for me, this is my last semester, and I really want to hone in on my schoolwork," Muoneke said. "We're all studying at different points; like, you'll come down to the lobby of the hotel and just see us studying, and then we take a break and watch film, and then we go to practice. We're really bringing out life here onto the road.
"I think being able to come home after a long away trip is like the biggest breath of fresh air. ... Coming home with wins, it always feels so rewarding, because we sacrifice so much on a daily basis for our sport. So being able to say that we won and went through all that, it feels worth it."
Georgia, like all teams, has its ways of trying to get comfortable on the road. Whether that's bringing a weighted stuffed animal with you, as Muoneke and many of her teammates do, or treating yourself to something sweet the night before a match — as Muoneke also does.
Muoneke said she has two weighted stuffed animals, which weigh about three pounds each, and she takes one or the other with her on the road. They are both pink dinosaurs, one named Mya and the other Colette. "When you're in the hotel and ready to go to sleep, you just kind of set it on you and it's nice to feel a little weight on you," she said.
As for the sweet treat that Muoneke gets, it's a box of Insomnia cookies from one of the delivery apps. Double chocolate chunk cookies, to be exact.
"I love those, and there's pretty much one (an Insomnia store) near every college campus," she said.
Haugen said Muoneke isn't the only Bulldog to use the food delivery apps.
"We always have a lot of sweet treats. Sometimes, if we're in a place that has one of my favorite restaurants, I'll order something for dinner that I knew I really want before a game," she said.
Haugen doesn't have one of the weighted stuffed animals at the moment, but she does bring her Bible with her on every road trip. "That's my thing. It keeps me grounded on the road," she said.
Winning at home feels good, always, but a win on the road can be even better.
"It's more of an obstacle than a home opponent," Haugen said. "There are more things you overcome. The team you're playing, they got to wake up in their own bed, they got to make whatever meals they want, and just kind of be in their own environment.
"I do think it comes with an extra push when you have a road win, and there's something great about getting back on the bus or the plane and coming home knowing that you went through this whole schedule and a little bit of chaos. It's all worth it to come out with the win; it's definitely a little bit sweeter."
As sweet as a double chocolate chunk cookie.
Staff Writer
The Georgia volleyball team heads into Friday night's 10K Day matchup at Stegeman Coliseum against Alabama riding a three-match win streak. All three of those victories have come on the road this month, during the most difficult stretch of the Bulldogs' schedule.
After winning two out of three matches at the Steg during the Bulldog Classic from Sept. 12-14, Georgia (11-5, 3-3 SEC) has played six of its last seven on the road. And that seven-match stretch included four straight against teams ranked at the time: No. 23 Georgia Tech, No. 22 Tennessee, No. 3 Kentucky — all on the road — and a home match against No. 2 Texas.
Georgia knocked off Tech in five sets on Sept. 19, before falling to the Volunteers, Wildcats and Longhorns. On Oct. 5, the Bulldogs began their three-match road swing with a four-set win at South Carolina. That was followed last weekend by wins at Arkansas and Oklahoma, both in four sets.
Outside hitter Bianna Muoneke, who leads the Bulldogs with 211 kills this season, said she learned something important about this team during the tough stretch it just endured.
"I think just how tough we are," Muoneke said. "I think it's really hard to get on buses, get on planes, go to practice, and not be able to sleep in your own bed — just being in a different environment all the time. And the fact that we were able to overcome that and go out and play like we did, I think it's just so impressive. I'm really proud of everyone."
Muoneke had a combined 36 kills in the wins over South Carolina, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Fellow outside hitter Estelle Haugen added 18 over the three wins.
"I think what it does is it just reveals how passionate and motivated the team is," Haugen said of playing on the road. "We always talk about, whatever gym we're in, we make it our home gym. I think that's one thing that we really took with us on the road: how can we make this environment and the momentum ours?
"I do think it's cool to have only your team there, like, that's all you've got, and knowing that that's who you're going into battle with is kind of inspiring on the road. It's awesome to get those road wins, and it's going to be great to come back home and have support, as well."
The challenges of competing on the road, especially multi-day trips, aren't confined to just playing in an unfamiliar arena in front of the opponent's fans. There are sometimes long bus rides, like from Fayetteville, Ark., to Norman, Okla.; there is treatment and maintenance that has to be done to tend to nagging injuries during the course of a long season; there is team preparation for the next match; and there is finding time to get all of their schoolwork done.
"I'm graduating in December, and for me, this is my last semester, and I really want to hone in on my schoolwork," Muoneke said. "We're all studying at different points; like, you'll come down to the lobby of the hotel and just see us studying, and then we take a break and watch film, and then we go to practice. We're really bringing out life here onto the road.
"I think being able to come home after a long away trip is like the biggest breath of fresh air. ... Coming home with wins, it always feels so rewarding, because we sacrifice so much on a daily basis for our sport. So being able to say that we won and went through all that, it feels worth it."
Georgia, like all teams, has its ways of trying to get comfortable on the road. Whether that's bringing a weighted stuffed animal with you, as Muoneke and many of her teammates do, or treating yourself to something sweet the night before a match — as Muoneke also does.
Muoneke said she has two weighted stuffed animals, which weigh about three pounds each, and she takes one or the other with her on the road. They are both pink dinosaurs, one named Mya and the other Colette. "When you're in the hotel and ready to go to sleep, you just kind of set it on you and it's nice to feel a little weight on you," she said.
As for the sweet treat that Muoneke gets, it's a box of Insomnia cookies from one of the delivery apps. Double chocolate chunk cookies, to be exact.
"I love those, and there's pretty much one (an Insomnia store) near every college campus," she said.
Haugen said Muoneke isn't the only Bulldog to use the food delivery apps.
"We always have a lot of sweet treats. Sometimes, if we're in a place that has one of my favorite restaurants, I'll order something for dinner that I knew I really want before a game," she said.
Haugen doesn't have one of the weighted stuffed animals at the moment, but she does bring her Bible with her on every road trip. "That's my thing. It keeps me grounded on the road," she said.
Winning at home feels good, always, but a win on the road can be even better.
"It's more of an obstacle than a home opponent," Haugen said. "There are more things you overcome. The team you're playing, they got to wake up in their own bed, they got to make whatever meals they want, and just kind of be in their own environment.
"I do think it comes with an extra push when you have a road win, and there's something great about getting back on the bus or the plane and coming home knowing that you went through this whole schedule and a little bit of chaos. It's all worth it to come out with the win; it's definitely a little bit sweeter."
As sweet as a double chocolate chunk cookie.
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files.
Players Mentioned
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