GC Volleyball Splits Action at Pepsi Bash at the Beach

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (GCSU RELEASE) – The Georgia College volleyball team (4-14) played a pair of straight-set matchups Friday at the Pepsi Bash at the Beach, beating Claflin University (10-11) before falling to host Palm Beach Atlantic University (14-3).

After a tight 27-25 win in the opening set over Claflin, the Bobcats dominated the rest of the way, 25-18, 25-17 for the win.

The Bobcats hit .346 for the match, besting a .129 effort from the Panthers, members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). The hitting percentage was the best effort of the season for Georgia College.

Rachel Rice (Johns Creek, Ga.) paced the team with 14 kills, a career-best. Blake Willoughby (Savannah, Ga.) added 11, while Rachel Reynolds (Marietta, Ga.) posted 10.

Caroline Ham (Marietta, Ga.) and Micayla Patterson (Tyrone, Ga.) led the specialists with 13 digs and 45 assists, respectively.

Against the Sailfish, Georgia College started off with a 25-14 loss, then battled through a second set to a tight 25-23 defeat. PBA then closed it out 25-13.

The hitting struggled against the stronger PBA squad, as Reynolds led with eight kills, Caroline Long (Roswell, Ga.) adding six. Long and Ashley Savransky (Roswell, Ga.) got things going a little in the trenches with three blocks each. Patterson had 21 assists and 11 digs for her sixth double-double.

Georgia College hit just .063, compared to a .247 effort from the Sailfish. The balanced attack was led by Christina Alessi at 10 kills.

The Bobcats are back in action tomorrow, Oct. 12 at noon, taking on Stonehill College to wrap up the tournament for GC volleyball.