Bobcat volleyball 1-2 in Bobcat Classic
Aug. 30—A winning record was preferable — certainly not due to dropping a 2-0 lead in a best-of-5 — but still Georgia College & State University volleyball coach Gretchen Krumdieck was content with what she saw in three season-opening matches from the Bobcats during the Bobcat Classic held last weekend at the Centennial Center.
"It was a good test," said Krumdieck after Georgia College's final match — and first win — 3-0 against Southern Wesleyan out of South Carolina Saturday. "Growing pains, it's going to happen. We learned a lot. It was good to close out this last match in three. Very encouraged for the future."
The set scores on Southern Wesleyan were 25-19, 25-14 and 25-20. That second set was the widest margin due to a long scoring string on serves by junior Mary Kate Kotzin. She had four aces.
But in playing Limestone College earlier Saturday, the Bobcats were ahead by scores of 27-25 and 25-19. It was Limestone the rest of the way with two 25-20 set wins and 15-9 in the fifth and deciding set.
Volleyball is a sport of communication, but also of momentum.
"Sometimes it just takes one big run," said Krumdieck. "We had that, and we need to keep doing that. You can tell when we get a little tight and nervous, we start getting timid. We need to get out of our comfort zone."
Against Southern Wesleyan, Flagler graduate transfer Rachel Machovec played her first match of the weekend. She sat out the Limestone contest plus Friday's lost to West Virginia State to rest an ailing shoulder.
"I absolutely love Milledgeville," said Machovec, a Mill Creek High graduate who was one of Flagler's leading players as a Bobcat rival in the Peach Belt Conference. She chose Georgia College to finish out her playing career as part of her Master's program, plus the fact her family lives 45 minutes away. "The girls, the team, everything's amazing."
The shoulder problems — she did have surgery in this area during her time at Flagler — came after a promising preseason in scrimmage play, but while she was frustrated the team was encouraging.
"I was ready to get on the court with them," said Machovec. "And give them my voice when I'm not on the court. I'm excited to play. This team has a lot of potential. I'm excited to actually be on Georgia College's team other than playing against them. Team chemistry is great."
Machovec limited her involvement in the last match with no attacks, but she did make eight defensive digs and set two assists.
Ally Hall, the top Bobcat returner in several categories, scored 12 kills and made 12 digs. Brooke Roberts of Rome had 10 kills and five blocks. Setting was split by Emily Long — senior from North Carolina — with 19 assists and Riese Johnson, Cumming freshman, with 16.
Going five sets with Limestone, Callie Miller, a junior from Acworth, was the most active in attacking and scored 13 kills. She also had 11 digs. Roberts at the net had 11 kills and blocked five. Kotzin and Kyeli Hazzard each blocked six times. Hall led the match in digs with 20 while Long set 26 assists.
In West Virginia State, the Bobcats faced a 2021 NCAA Division II qualifier and defending champion of the Mountain East Conference. The Jackets swept the contest Friday with a convincing opening set 25-11, but the Bobcats were able to take set No. 2 into 'overtime' before falling 28-26. A 25-22 final set for WVSU decided the match.
In that second set had one of those big momentum spells by fighting off set point seven times when down 24-17. That evened things at 24-24. Miller had a pair of kills in that stretch.
GCSU had eight kills from Hall to lead the way, flanked by seven from Miller. Hall also tied for the team lead in digs with 10, sharing that honor with freshman libero Alanis Bernis. Long led with 17 assists.
The Bobcats will be in more tournament action this upcoming weekend at Mars Hill in North Carolina. Krumdieck said it will be more high-level competition and more chances for court time to improve.
