Nov. 16, 2001
Box Score
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.- The Maryland volleyball team earned its biggest victory of the season with a five-game victory over Georgia Tech Friday night in the quarterfinals of the ACC Volleyball Championship. The No. 6 seed Terrapins upset the third-seeded Yellow Jackets 3-2 (26-30, 19-30,30-23, 30-28, 15-13) and will meet the No. 2 seed North Carolina Saturday in the semifinals of the ACC Volleyball Championship.
"This is a big win for Maryland volleyball", said Maryland coach Janice Kruger. "I am so proud of our kids, they have just fought hard and believed in themselves from the very beginning."
After spotting the Yellow Jackets a two-game lead, the Terps rallied behind the efforts of junior outside hitter Carey Brennan (Smithsburg, Md.). The second team All-ACC selection put the Terps on her back and responded by tying a career-high with 28 kills to go along with 19 digs while hitting .415 for the match. The kills and digs led all players on the night as Brennan missed most of the week with flu-like symptons.
"Carey Brennan had a great match with 28 kils and she has been ill, so I'm not sure what she has got left," commented Kruger after the match.
After pulling away in game three and winning a close game four, the Terps trailed 13-11 in the deciding game. The Terps would respond with four straight points including a kill by sophomore right side Lynnsy Jones (Castro Valley, Calif.) and a service ace by Brennan for the game winner.
Senior middle hitter Willette Dority (Congers, N.Y.) finished with 13 kills and five blocks while sophomore outside hitter Maria DiLivio (Hamilton, Ontario) smacked 10 kills and recorded a career-high 16 digs for the winners.
The victory was the first of the year for the Terps over the Yellow Jackets and it also the sixth win in the last seven opening matches for Maryland at the ACC Volleyball Championship. Kruger is now 15-11 all-time in the tournament while Maryland as a team is 3-1 vs. the Yellow Jackets in ACC Championship play.
The Terps will look to continue their run tomorrow at 4 p.m. vs. No. 2 North Carolina. Each team won on their home court this season in two meetings with the Terps winning the last time the two met in five games.
