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The institute’s volleyball team is gearing up to get back to work following a stellar season last year. Last season, the team advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament before losing to the top-seeded Louisville Cardinals. The Jackets entered the season ranked ninth in the nation.
Last season, the Jackets tied their previous record by advancing to the Elite Eight in the postseason. It is only the second time he has been on the volleyball team in 42 years. The Jackets were one of the best offensive teams last season with 1700 kills, which ranked seventh for a team in a single season total.
With the facility losing five players after last season, the Jackets will be looking to reload after a successful season and will look to repeat that success with a new group of players. Four of the five players had significant roles for the team, and all five appeared for Tech at some point during the season.
Offensively, the Jackets return key contributors in senior Julia Bergman and sophomore Bianca Bertolino. Bertolino ranks third in kills with 286 for the entire season. Bergman led the team last year with 497 kills this season, earning AVCA First Team All-American honors.
For the Jackets defense, graduating senior Breland Morissette led the team in blocks last season with 112 and will return this season to improve or improve her role for the team.
Paula Pimentel, who led the team in digs last season, also returns for Institute on the defensive end.
Tech’s volleyball team also gained five new players to replace the five that graduated. Three new freshmen and two new transfers have been added this upcoming season. Freshmen are Anna Bozzi from Dayton, Ohio, Mikalia White from Leesburg, Georgia and Cara Bianco from Milton, Georgia.
These freshmen were key contributors on their high school teams and will look to develop even more as their college careers begin. The transfers are Illinois State junior Tamara Ottene, an honorable mention All-American and full-time starter last season and Tali Marmen, who was a standout player at UCF last season.
The Jackets begin regular season play on Friday, August 26 at Ole Miss at the Ole Miss Invitational. They also have a matchup against Illinois at the invitational.
The Jackets first home game will be next weekend, Friday, September 2 against Dayton at O’Keefe Gymnasium for those who want to see the Jackets in person. ACC play for the Jackets begins Friday, Sept. 23 against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, and the regular season ends after 27 games, the last of which is Saturday, Nov. 26 in Atlanta against the Florida State Seminoles.
The Tech volleyball team is primed and ready for another deep postseason run this year and will look to improve on last season’s Elite Eight exit. The volleyball team at the institute is one of the most successful teams on campus and they plan to cheer on their fellow Jackets this season, and students and faculty alike love to see them attend their games.
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