ATLANTA, Ga. --- Kennedy Madison (Evansville, Ind.) put down 20 kills,
Devon Rachel (Louisville, Ky.) and
Lauren Freed (Troy, Ohio) each recorded a double-double, and head coach
Jason Kepner collected his program-record 287
th career victory as the College of Charleston volleyball team defeated Georgia Tech, 3-1, on Friday evening to advance to the quarterfinal round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship.
With the win, College of Charleston (23-11) advances to the third round of a postseason tournament for the first time in program history, and will face in-state foe Clemson on Thursday in the NIVC Quarterfinals. The Cougars won the match by scores of 25-22, 17-25, 26-24, and 25-18, and combined for 63 kills, 66 digs, four blocks, and a .299 hitting percentage. Georgia Tech (18-15) finished with 59 kills, 53 digs, nine blocks, and a .260 attacking clip.
Madison paced the offense with 20 kills and a blistering .457 (20-4-35) hitting percentage to move into ninth on the program's all-time kills list. Freed continued her strong play with her 13
th double-double of the season, collecting 17 kills and 12 digs while hitting .316 (17-5-38). Rachel added her 14
th double-double of the campaign with 16 kills and 14 digs, and with the effort, jumped into third on the school's single-season kills list with 477 this season.
Beckman turned in her second 50-assist performance of the weekend and the 25
th of her career with a match-high 56 to fuel the Cougars' attack.
McKala Rhodes (Charleston, S.C.) led all players with 21 digs to move closer to the coveted career total of 2,000, needing 24 to reach that mark.
Logan Manusky (San Diego, Calif.) chipped in nine digs, as Beckman,
Mandy Napierala (Rochester, N.Y.), and
Peyton Eisnaugle (Dallas, Texas) each posted two blocks.
Mikaila Dowd led the way for Georgia Tech with 22 kills, 11 digs, three blocks, and a .312 (22-7-48) hitting percentage. Mariana Brambilla finished with 21 kills, as Matti McKissock turned in a double-double with 40 assists and 11 digs. Maddie Tippett collected 13 digs, and Kodie Comby was credited with a match-high eight blocks.
The Cougars now advance to the NIVC Quarterfinals where they will face Clemson on Thursday, December 6, in Clemson, S.C. First serve is slated for 7:00 p.m.
