MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The Flagler volleyball team traveled to Georgia College & State University in a Peach Belt Conference match Saturday afternoon inside the Centennial Center. The Saints extended their winning streak to 15 consecutive matches with a 3-1 match win over the Bobcats, winning 25-17, 29-31, 25-14, 25-16.
QUOTES FROM COACH
"Today's game is a perfect example of why you can't just look at a team's record or where they are in the standings. Georgia College is a good team, and we knew it would be a battle."
Jeff Reynolds opened.
"We did a nice job in the first set of taking control of the match, and through most of the second set, but when we went away from our game plan for whatever reason, we made a few too many mistakes." Reynolds said. "When we came out in the third set, they jumped out to a 4-1 lead which caused us to call a quick timeout. From that point on we took back control of the match by working together and executing our game plan at a much higher level." Reynolds added.
"I'm really proud of this team for fighting through today's match and working together. It was good for us to face some competitive adversity on the road like this and work together to fight through it. We have a tough series coming up next weekend and will need a strong performance." Reynolds finished.
Flagler vs. Georgia College
Score: Flagler 3, Georgia College 1 (25-17, 29-31, 25-14, 25-16)
Location: Milledgeville, Ga. (Centennial Center)
Records: Flagler (16-2) PBC (5-0), Georgia College (4-15) PBC (1-4)
OPENING VOLLEY
- Marley Middlebrooks recorded her 13th double-double of the season, producing 22 kills and 15 digs. Middlebrooks also added two aces and two blocks.
- Gia Lowe produced 15 kills with a .406 hitting percentage while adding one block and one block.
- Sophomore Jolie Trudeau accomplished her first double-double of the season with 10 kills and 11 digs. Trudeau also produced four assists and one ace.
- Senior Katherine Rank added nine kills and with one assist and two blocks.
- Jilly Young and Bella Law continued to command the offensive at setter. Young recorded her fifth double-double producing 34 assists and 12 digs. Young also recorded two kills and two aces. Law contributed 11 assists with one kill and one dig.
THE DIFFERENCE
- After taking an early 5-3 lead in the opening set, the Saints battled back and forth with the Bobcats before taking control at 10-8. Flagler then went on an 8-4 run to extend the lead 18-12. The Saints continued to apply pressure with a three-kill run to increase the lead 21-12. Flagler maintained its lead throughout the remainder of the set and closed out the opener 25-17.
- Flagler established an 18-14 advantage in the second set and continued to hold the lead at 21-17. Georgia College responded with a 5-1 run to even the score at 22-22, setting up a dramatic finish. The teams traded points throughout the remainder of the set, forcing extra points. Flagler took a 29-28 lead before the Bobcats scored the final three points to claim the set 31-29.
- Georgia College opened the third set with a 4-1 lead, but Flagler immediately answered with an 8-2 run to take a 9-6 advantage. The Saints continued to hold the lead with a 7-5 run to lead 16-11. Flagler continued to apply pressure down the stretch, going on a five-point run to close out the set 25-14.
- The Saints came out aggressive in the final set, establishing an early 4-0 lead. Georgia College attempted to gain momentum with a 7-5 run, but Flagler maintained its advantage at 9-7. Flagler continued to build a lead with a 6-4 run to go up 15-11 and adding an 8-3 run extended the lead 23-14. The Saints never allowed Georgia College to get closer than six points in the final stretch, finishing the match with three of the final four points to secure the 25-16 victory.
NOTABLES
- Saturday's win extended the Saints win streak to 15 consecutive matches moving Flagler into a tie for fourth place in program history for the longest winning streak.
- The Saints improved to 5-0 in Peach Belt Conference play.
COMING UP
The Saints will travel to Aiken, S.C. to face USCA in a Peach Belt Conference matchup on Friday, October 9
th at 6 p.m.
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