Atlanta, GA – In a highly anticipated matchup between the No. 3-ranked University of Louisville volleyball team and the No. 10-ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, it was Georgia Tech who came out on top with a 3-1 victory. The loss marks the Cardinals’ first defeat to the Yellow Jackets since 2016 and puts an end to their eight-match winning streak.
Despite a strong effort from the Cardinals, who hit .186 with seven aces and nine blocks as a team, it was Georgia Tech who had the upper hand. Outside hitter Charitie Luper led the way for Louisville with 15 kills, two aces, four digs, and two blocks, while middle blocker Phekran Kong contributed 13 kills and three blocks.
Setter Elle Glock played a key role in distributing the ball, tallying 40 assists, seven kills, and two blocks. Libero Elena Scott anchored the defense with an impressive 24 digs, along with five assists and an ace.
On the other side of the net, Georgia Tech proved to be a formidable opponent. They hit .242 with eight aces and 11 blocks. Bianca Bertolino had a standout performance, recording seven kills, seven aces, 16 digs, and five blocks.
With the loss, the Cardinals’ overall record now stands at 20-3, with an 11-2 record in the ACC. They find themselves in a four-way tie at the top of the conference. They will look to bounce back in their next match against Clemson on Sunday.
The first set saw a back-and-forth battle between the two teams, with several lead changes. The Cardinals had a chance to close out the set when they reached set point at 24-20, but the Yellow Jackets rallied with six straight points, including three consecutive aces by Bertolino, to steal the set 26-24.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with both teams trading blows. The Cardinals fought hard but ultimately fell short, as Georgia Tech closed out the set 25-22.
In the third set, Louisville showed resilience and fought back to take control. Led by Kong and Cresse, they secured a convincing 25-17 win to stay alive in the match.
However, in the fourth set, Georgia Tech proved too strong. They built an early lead and never looked back, ultimately winning the set 25-19 to seal the 3-1 victory.
The Cardinals will need to regroup and come back stronger in their upcoming matches as they look to maintain their position at the top of the ACC standings.
