Volleyball wins two crucial ACC games at home
By Jamie Howell/ Student Publications
Ulrike Stegmann sets a ball. She played particularly well against UNC, posting her fifth double-double of the season with 19 kills and 10 digs.
The Jackets completed a five match homestand this past weekend, defeating North Carolina and N.C. State at O'Keefe.
Tech dominated the game against N.C. State on Friday, sweeping the Wolfpack, 3-0. While N.C. State was able to keep it close in the first game, eventually failing 30-27, they were dominated in the last two, losing by double digit margins. Tech won the second game by a score of 30-18 and the third by a score of 30-19. Talisa Kellogg provided the anchor for the team's offense, collecting 14 kills on 29 attempts. Chrissy DeMichelis was not far behind in the category, racking up 13 kills during the match. The team collected 12 service aces throughout the match,
Michelle Kandell helped on defense, collecting eight digs during the first game and 14 overall. Allie Niekamp and Mary Ashley Tippins both had time at the setter position throughout the match.
The next night, the Jackets went ahead and won the game against North Carolina, edging out the Tar Heels, 3-2. Tech set off to an early lead, winning the first two games in convincing fashion. North Carolina was able to come back and tie the match at two games-a-piece and force the tiebreaking matchup. Tech came away with the close victory and another fifth game victory, winning 17-15.
Ulrike Stegmann posted her fifth double-double of the season with 19 kills and 10 digs. The senior was honored before the game as one of the three seniors on the Jackets.
DeMichelis continued to be an offensive force with 20 kills, the third straight match for the sophomore outside hitter. She combined with Kellogg for 36 kills in the match to help lead the team.
Niekamp also posted another impressive night hitting her fifth double-double of the season. She had 61 assists and 12 digs during the match.
Kandell continued to contribute in the back row, leading the team during the match with 24 digs.
Callie Miller, Nikki Kaminskas and Erin Birmingham helped out in the middle, coming together for 18 kills.
The Jackets also played Clemson, losing to the ACC leader in four games, 3-1. Clemson is a perfect 14-0 in the ACC and in first place. Tech lost its matchup against Clemson earlier in the season when the Tigers visited O'Keefe Stadium. During that trip, Tech was swept on their own home turf.
Tech won its first game, showing flashes of dominance on its way to a 30-22 victory. Still, the team could not hang on to their lead and lost the next three games by a combined margin of 25 points.
Despite the loss, several of the team members performed well. Talisa Kellogg posted a season high 24 kills during the match. Kandell posted a match-high 23 digs.
The team will play Virginia Tech today in a repeat matchup of last night's football game. They play in just four more home games this season, all against ACC foes. Their next home game is against Duke on Nov. 8, with the game starting at 1 p.m. The other teams that the team faces in the final home stretch are Florida State, Miami and Wake Forest. The team will hope to earn a berth into the NCAA Tournament, starting Dec. 4.
