Cross Country
Nahom Solomon returns from Louisville Tech’s newest All-American, and the Tech men’s first in cross country since 1994 (Renee Metivier finished second in 2001). Solomon finished 22nd in the event, with a best time of 29:44.36, and retires having paced the Jackets in every race this season. Congrats to a successful four years on the Flats!
This Week: The cross country season has concluded.
Swimming & Diving
The Tech men placed third, and the women fourth, at their invitational this weekend. The Jackets now sit atop a heap of NCAA B-cuts, but still no A-cuts (think “bubble team” versus “conference tournament champion” in basketball) following their mid-season taper meet. The Jackets also managed to break several school records, including Colt Williamson and Iris Wang breaking their own school records in the 500 Freestyle, as well as the 100 and 200 Freestyle, respectively, while Caroline Lee broke the 200 Backstroke record and Emily Ilgenfritz shattered the women’s 500 Freestyle record, which was twelve years old. Moises Loschi and Caio Pumpitis finished back-to-back atop the podium in the 200 Breaststroke, and countless swimmers finished with personal bests in several events - exactly what is expected from a varsity swim team when they suit up for an invitational. Was it successful? Were there lots of accolades? Can Tech still improve from here? The answer to all three is a resounding yes.
This Week: Swimming and diving is off until after Thanksgiving.
Women’s Basketball
Wednesday, November 15th: Georgia Tech (3 - 0) defeats Kennesaw State (0 - 3), 86-48.
Sunday, November 19th: Georgia Tech (4 - 0) vanquishes Princeton (2 - 1), 67-56.
Tech ran away with their first game of the week, leading by more than twenty before time expired on the first quarter en route to their eleventh straight victory over Kennesaw State. The latter game, the first decided by less than twenty this young season, kept the Jackets undefeated. The game, which the Jackets led by as many as sixteen, was a relatively close affair, even late in the fourth quarter, where Princeton actually outscored Tech. In the end, though, Tech was able to ice the game with a six point run to secure their fourth victory of the season.
This Week: Tech faces Georgia State in an 11:00 AM tilt on Tuesday, a morning game for some inexplicable reason, before heading out for a Thanksgiving trip to the Bahamas.
Women’s Volleyball
Wednesday, November 15th: Georgia Tech (13 - 15) sweeps Clemson (7 - 22) 25-17, 25-19, 25-18 (3 - 0)
Sunday, November 19th: Pittsburgh (23 - 6) sweeps Georgia Tech (13 - 16) 25-22, 25-20, 25-21 (3 - 0)
In the first set against the rival Tigers, the Jackets never allowed their opponent within three as they handled Clemson with relative ease. The next two sets were closer, for sure, but Tech didn’t trail until the third set and neither were tied later in the game than when both knotted up at 13. For the second time this season, the Jackets were able to Tech care of business against an outmatched Clemson Tigers squad. In their second game of the week, Tech was swept right back by the stellar Pittsburgh Panthers. The games were a little closer, with Tech leading or tied late in both the first and third sets, but Tech was unable to close out either game. Though much of the season has paralleled the Pitt game, seven of the sixteen rostered players have been freshmen, and it has definitely been a season of growth for them.
This week: Tech hosts Miami and Florida State to close the regular season.
For football coverage: It wasn’t pretty in deserted Durham.
For men’s basketball coverage: Tech edges Bethune-Cookman.
This week on the Flats: Volleyball closes out the regular season against Miami and Florida State, while the women’s basketball team hosts a rare Tuesday morning game against crosstown Georgia State. Meanwhile, the Tech men host Texas-Rio Grande Valley and North Texas Wednesday and Friday, and the women ship out for their tournament in the Bahamas. On Saturday, the 112th edition of Clean, Old Fashioned Hate comes to Bobby Dodd Stadium and toe meets leather at noon.