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Olivia Sayer
UGA volleyball players ready to return a hit during the UGA vs Samford volleyball match at the Ramsey Center in Athens, Georgia on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. (Photo/ Laney Martin; @laneymartinphotography)
Georgia volleyball took a trip to College Station Sunday afternoon and dominated with a three set sweep of Texas A&M.
Graduate Kacie Evans led the offensive attack with 14 kills and an eye-popping .480 hitting percentage. Her 12 digs also secured her sixth double-double of the season. Junior Clara Brower had a three-set season-high 40 assists, while senior Sophie Fischer recorded a team-best 18 points.
As a team, Georgia hit at a .330 clip, its highest in SEC play this season. The Bulldogs also recorded eight service aces, while graduate Erica Staunton and junior Bailey Cox tallied nine kills and nine digs, respectively.
The Bulldogs’ third straight victory improved them to 13-7 on the season and 4-4 in conference play.
Three-straight aces by Fischer gave Georgia an early lead in the first set. With the Bulldogs leading 15-12, Texas A&M cut into Georgia’s lead but was never able to seize it. A kill by Evans drew the Bulldogs to set point, but the Aggies brought the score within one. With Georgia leading 24-23, a kill from Staunton ended the set and gave the Bulldogs a 25-23 victory.
The second set did not start out as well for the Bulldogs, as Texas A&M jumped out to a 9-5 lead. A kill by Brower sparked a 3-0 run to give Georgia its first lead of the set, and another 3-0 run put the Bulldogs ahead 17-14. Tied at 19, both a kill by Evans and a block by the Bulldogs put them back in front 21-19. Georgia never relinquished the lead and won the set 25-22.
Needing just one more win to clinch the match, the Bulldogs got out to an 8-5 lead in set three. However, the tide quickly shifted when the Aggies went on a 5-0 run. Not to be outdone, Georgia responded with three straight points.
After a 4-1 run, the Bulldogs found themselves leading 16-13 and Texas A&M was forced to call a timeout. Leading 19-17, a 6-1 run by Georgia provided the exclamation point and gave Georgia the 25-18 set win and three-set sweep.
Georgia looks to strengthen its winning streak when it hosts No. 23 Auburn on Friday, Oct. 27 at Stegeman Coliseum.