Spring Break
Volleyball takes three-match winning streak into final SEC tune-up
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Division I-AA Florida A&M comes calling at 7 p.m., providing what should be another in a string of recent victories for the rebuilding Lady Bulldogs.
Georgia (6-3) is currently riding a three-game win streak -- its second of the season -- after taking first place in its own Outback Invitational last weekend. The Lady Bulldogs have won six of their last seven matches and are three games above .500, marking the program's highest winning percentage since 1997.
With SEC foes Auburn and Alabama set to visit the Ramsey Center later this week, Georgia runs a dangerous risk of looking past the Rattlers. Lady Bulldog coach Mary Buczek is taking strides to guard against the possibility of overconfidence.
"I will pound it into their heads to play every match," promised Buczek after Georgia's Outback-clinching win over Saint Louis Saturday. "We have our non-conference goals and you can't look past anyone at this point."
A notable aspect of Georgia's season to this point has been the contributions of a handful of new faces. Four freshmen were on the court to close out the Saint Louis match. The Florida A&M match may provide a chance for Buczek to empty the bench, but there are few players who have yet to make significant contributions.
True freshman Luresa "The Hammer" Forsythe has made an immediate impact. She made the All-Tournament Team at the Outback, posting 22 kills against Saint Louis.
A freshman has also stepped up at the all-important position of setter. Kilee Goetz, a medical redshirt who missed all of last year, appears to be the replacement for the departed Mindi Westfall. Goetz set for the entire Saint Louis match finishing with a career-best 61 assists.
"I think it's good that everyone is getting a lot of playing time," said junior Stacy Buerger, who leads Georgia with 3.35 kills per game and was named MVP of last weekend's Outback. "We are a young team, and everyone knows that, but next year, we're going to be incredible."
Soccer makes fans hungry with 'donuts'
The good news for the Lady Bulldogs is that senior goalie Nicole Williams set an SEC shutout record with 25.5 against Georgia State Sunday. The bad news is Georgia was shut out as well.
With the 0-0 draw, Georgia (5-2-1) notched its first tie of the season in a double-overtime defensive battle with the lowly Panthers (2-6-1).
Williams' shutout broke the old SEC record, which was set by Vanderbilt's Christy Barringer with 25 in 1995.
-- Graham Garrison
