Georgia volleyball (2-0) swept the Furman Paladins (0-2) in its first match Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum (25-20, 31-29, 25-18).
The Bulldogs will wrap up Benson Hospitality Invitational play Saturday evening against Illinois State (2-0) at 7:30 p.m.
In Saturday’s matinee, the Bulldogs were led offensively by Majesti Bass with 12 kills and a .360 hitting clip. The senior also assisted on four blocks. Sophomore Rachel Ritchie picked up her second double-digit kill match in a row with 11 while hitting .333. She was a dig short of earning a double-double. Ritchie, along with T’ara Ceasar and Kendall Glover, each had nine digs.
Redshirt-freshman Claire Rothenberger, in her first start at Libero, registered 18 digs. Junior setter Meghan Donovan assisted on 39 kills with 12 digs, her second double-double in as many days. As a team, Georgia hit .291 Saturday afternoon. At the service line, Georgia had seven aces, led by four from Glover.
Georgia’s 64 team digs in three sets ranked fourth all-time in rally scoring history as a program.
The opening frame was close to begin before a six-point run opened a 14-9 lead for the Bulldogs. Georgia was able to keep Furman at bay the remainder of the set en route to a 25-20 victory.
Ceasar and Bass each had five kills. Bass hit .833 in the set, laying down five kills on six chances.
The second set was the tightest set of the match as it featured 17 ties. The Bulldogs and Paladins went point-for-point much of the set with neither team able to get a handle on a significant lead. Georgia prevailed in the end of the long set to take a 2-0 lead in the match, 31-29.
Ritchie laid down seven total kills in the second set alone. Rothenberger had 10 digs on defense while the front row combined for four blocks.
Tied at 13 in the third set, Georgia scored on seven of the next eight serves to go ahead 20-14. The Bulldogs’ run was too much for Furman as Georgia shut the door on the sweep with a 25-18 set three win.