Alabama volleyball fell for the second time this season to the University of Georgia Bulldogs 1-3 (25-22, 11-25, 22-25, 22-25) on Nov. 21, leaving the Tide 10-19 overall and 2-17 in the SEC.
The Crimson Tide celebrated Senior Day in The CAVE on Sunday in honor of the four seniors who will be departing in the spring. The team also celebrated the birthday of head coach Judy Green.
The first points went to the Bulldogs along with the lead within the first five minutes, only to be taken quickly by Alabama at the 5-all tie by a three-point run on Georgia. Calli Johnson and Leigh Moyer each earned their respective kills for the Tide, while the Bulldogs fought back with several professionally executed digs.
Kayla Fitterer served up two dangerously sharp kills in a row to put the score at 15-12 Alabama. A line judgment error from the Tide tied the score 18-all mid set. The Bulldogs gave Alabama two points by killing too far over the outside lines.
Johnson and Fitterer found holes in the Bulldogs’ defense and executed three clean kills respectively to hold tight to Alabama’s lead. The set ended 25-22 on a Georgia error.
The first points in the second set went in favor of the Tide, but the team made more errors than preferred and faced another 5-all tie.
In this set, the Tide had a much harder time getting past the Bulldogs’ fortress-like front line and lost their lead 5-7. A series of tight serves from Georgia’s Allison Summers trapped Alabama at only 5 points and bumped Georgia up to 12 at the second time out.
With the single lead change early on, Georgia jumped ahead as much as 14 points above the Tide and ended the set 11-25. Georgia’s hit average in set two was .269, more than double what the Tide earned with .127, the largest deficit of the match.
The energy in The CAVE was high going into the third set with Georgia in the lead.
An unbelievable run by Alabama brought the score 16-16 with the help of a kill from Alyssa Meuth and a dig and two kills by Fitterer. The tie was broken and the lead changed in favor of the Tide due to a Bulldog outside hit.
The lead went back and forth due to Meuth’s fifth kill to the back corner of Georgia’s half of the court but the ever-changing lead landed with the Bulldogs in the end 22-25.
The fourth and final set the teams flip-flopped the lead in the beginning, but Alabama pulled through and held tight until mid-set. Alabama took the lead at the 15-all tie but Georgia refused to take the trade and fought back up to the top.
Despite the Tide’s effort, Georgia overtook Alabama for the last time 22-25.
The last match of the season comes Wednesday as the Tide takes on the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
