Yellow Jacket Roundup: High-Pass Filter

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - For all the electrical engineers out there, you’ll know what I mean. For those that don’t, well, let’s just say we’re taking a longer look at volleyball, the good frequency on campus at the moment, than the bad ones. Is this all going to be circuit-themed? Probably not. I’m a mechanical engineer. But, you get the point. It’s a plot device. Now, well, let’s talk some non-rev sports.

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Volleyball

Tech (13-7) sweeps RV Florida State (12-6) 3-0 (25-23, 25-12, 25-13)
Tech (14-7) sweeps Miami (8-10) 3-0 (25-12, 25-18, 25-21)

It was a nail-biter of a first set at O’Keefe on Friday night as Tech took on the Florida State Seminoles. Though it was a drizzly, gross Atlanta fall night, the court at O’Keefe was warm and dry, and, for the Jackets, their usual home, sweet home. Tech, as many teams do, plays well in their friendly confines, and this weekend was no different. What was different, though, was the way they accomplished it. For the first time in team history, Tech has won six straight games in sweeping fashion.

On Friday, they came the closest they’ve been all year to breaking their historic run. The Jackets started down the Seminoles, trailing 23-21 late in the first set. Florida State had been out-attacking Tech at a .135 to .114 clip, which was most of the difference in between the two teams in the stretch of game after a 12-12 tie midway through. However, Tech was able to rally for four straight points, including the decisive kill at 24-23, to end the set before extra points were needed. The second and third sets, though, weren’t nearly as nerve-wracking, though Florida State did manage to put up a win’s worth of points - combined between the two. The back to back duds, resulting in a measly 12 and 13 points, respectively, were a result of error-prone attacks from Florida State in the second set (they would finish it at an ugly -.107) and dominant offense from the home team in the third.

On Sunday, that other Florida ACC team came to town for a visit to the O’Keefe Gymnasium. Tech walked out with Coach Michelle Collier’s 100th win on the Flats. Though that was a big storyline from the afternoon, in an even more historic occasion, Tech, for the first time ever, has recorded wins by sweep in six straight matches. So it was a good day, to say the least. One of my biggest sticking points with this team, which has looked solid all year, was about coming out of the start of sets and matches slowly, but this was nowhere near the case on Sunday. Tech roared out to a 25-12 win in the first set, thanks in large part to great offense. With the established line Tech has, with strong hitters, it makes sense that they can put up great numbers game in and game out by dominating with shear force. We’ll take it, for sure. Interestingly, after a similar second set, Tech had kind of the opposite problem in the third. The Jackets once more took a commanding lead, but, this time, Miami was able to slowly chip away as Tech inched towards the 25 point threshold. However, it was a classic case of too little, too late from the visitors, and, soon, Tech would walk away with a doubly historic victory.

The Tech streak, and their general wherewithal, will be put to the test this week on the road. Tech has long been a team very, very comfortable at home, but slightly off away from it. The last two weekends away from O’Keefe Tech walked away with a pair of closer-than-they-looked losses to solid teams and two impressive sweeps, though, so I think they’re trending in the right direction. It’s something to eagerly anticipate this Friday.

This week: Tech catches the two public North Carolina ACC schools in the Research Triangle this Friday and Sunday.

Men’s Tennis

Tech had a well-rounded, productive week in Tallahassee. The Jackets sent five athletes directly to the main draw of the ITA Southeast Regional, and they were joined by Brandon Freestone after he won his way through a qualifying round. Ultimately, Marcus McDaniel would make it the farthest in the main draw of any of the Jackets, topping out in the Round of 16, though Pablo Schelcher and Andres Martin played into the quarterfinals of the back draw consolation. A somewhat spent Martin fell 6-2, 6-1 to Brian Berdusco of Florida, but Schelcher avenged his teammate in the semifinal. He plays today for a spot in the consolation final. Meanwhile, the duo of Freestone and Chris Yun will play a semifinal match in the doubles bracket after winning their way through the draw, as well.

This week: Tech wraps up in Tallahassee before heading to Statesboro for a tournament at Georgia Southern.

RV/NR Swimming and Diving

I’ll lead with this quote, because it is really excellent, courtesy of RamblinWreck.com:

The men were led by junior Christian Ferraro, who won the 200 fly with an NCAA B qualifying time of 1:45.86. He also won the 100 fly with a time of 47.85. They also got a strong showing from junior Caio Pumputis, who won the 200 free (1:38.51), 200 breast (2:01.59) and 200 IM (1:49.54).

Those two young men are truly excellent. Corben Miles was sub-20 seconds in his split of the 200 Medley Relay, which the Tech men also won, while the Jackets also took the 200 free relay, as well. Freshman Dylan Scott’s showing in the distance events was incredibly promising, as well.

On the women’s side, seniors Emily Ilgenfritz and Caroline Lee were standouts, with the former taking the 1000 and 500 free and the latter adding the 100 and 200 back. Two freshmen, McKenzie Campbell and Kyrsten Davis were some of Tech’s brightest spots.

However, ultimately, the Jackets came up short. It’s a little ambitious to say we should expect a win, especially over no. 17 Florida State by a roughly top-30 Tech men’s team, but they pulled a similar upset last year, with mostly the same athletes. However, ultimately, the swims Tech expected to get, I’d say we got. There were a couple of bright spots, too, but no earth-shattering performances. The men have no. 16 Tennessee looming in Knoxville in about two weeks, though, so it’ll be another chance to prove something coming up shortly. I think they can get there. This week, though, they came up a bit short.

This week: Tech is at rest.

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The Hot Corner

This team, even in exhibition, exists to give us fits, I think. And the fans who stayed around until the end of the lengthy showcase got their time’s worth when Will Coquillard decided to take matters into his own hands with the bat after pitching a scoreless frame in the top of the 12th. Tech trailed by a run - yes, it’s preseason, don’t worry about the inning number - and, had the game stopped after the usual nine innings, Samford would have walked away with the win. However, and this is key, Tech’s freshmen played a big role in scratching across the runs needed to get the Jackets back in the game after a couple convincing Samford home runs in the middle of the game. Of course you’ll see the last at bat and say Coquillard is the guy to watch, but the unsung hero was probably Zach Maxwell, the burly starter. He let up no hits in two innings of work, even picking off a man at first after surrendering a walk. I like what I saw from this guy. Of course, it was great to have Andy Archer back on the mound, too, after he missed last season due to injury.

Last spring’s team was a lot of fun. Though a lot of them, sadly, have moved on - and they’ll be missed - there is a ton to love about this team, including the stacked freshman class. February 15th, or thereabouts, can’t come soon enough.

In the Club House

Though the home game against Alabama was cancelled, Tech got a dominating win in Greenville over a rival up the road this weekend.

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For football coverage:

instead of a recap, click here for Stephen and Chris’ trip to Baton Rouge

For basketball coverage:

click here for the roster preview

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This Week on the Flats:

BOLD for home, REGULAR for away, ITALIC for time and location

Monday:
No. 6 Golf vs. no. 33 California (Cypress Point Classic Round One)
11:00 AM, Cypress Point Golf Club, Pebble Beach, CA

No. 6 Golf vs. no. 24 UCLA or no. 48 Illinois (Cypress Point Classic Round Two)
3:30 PM, Cypress Point Golf Club, Pebble Beach, CA

Tuesday:
No. 6 Golf vs. TBD (Cypress Point Classic Final Round)
11:00 AM, Cypress Point Golf Club, Pebble Beach, CA

Wednesday:
Women’s Basketball vs. Clayton College
7:00 PM, McCamish Pavilion

Thursday: OFF

Friday:
Men’s Tennis at the Georgia Southern Championships
All day, Statesboro, GA

Cross Country at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships
10:00 AM, Blacksburg, VA

HOMECOMING - MINI 500
5:30 PM, Peters Parking Deck

Volleyball at North Carolina-Chapel Hill
6:30 PM, Chapel Hill, NC, ACC Network Extra and maybe WREK 91.1

Saturday:
Men’s Tennis at the Georgia Southern Championships
All day, Statesboro, GA

HOMECOMING - FRESHMAN CAKE RACE
6:00 AM, East Campus

HOMECOMING - WRECK PARADE
9:00 AM, Fowler Street

Football vs. Pittsburgh
4:00 PM, Bobby Dodd Stadium, ACC Network Extra and Regional Sports Networks (Fox Sports South in Atlanta) and the IMG Georgia Tech Radio Network (680 AM / 93.7 FM)

Sunday:
Men’s Tennis at the Georgia Southern Championships
All day, Statesboro, GA

Volleyball at North Carolina State
1:00 PM, Raleigh, NC, ACC Network Extra and maybe WREK 91.1