The Red and Black

Issue date: 10/13/08 Section: Sports

TAYLOR

The Georgia volleyball team fought and narrowly escaped with a victory Friday night in a five-set thriller to deny Auburn its first win in Southeastern Conference play this season.

Georgia once again was led by its three-headed attack of Maria Taylor, Erika Clark and Lindsay Gehan.

Taylor, a senior, led the Bulldogs with 21 kills in the match and had 24.5 total points after adding four blocks and an ace. She jumped up three spots on the all-time points list at Georgia, from sixth to third, with a total of 1,943.5 points.

Clark recorded her fourth double-double of the season as she added 13 kills to go with 11 digs and Gehan, the reigning SEC player of the week, also totaled 13 kills for the Bulldogs.

Defensively the Dogs were led by two freshmen, Carla Tietz and Tomoko Matsuyama, who had 17 and 11 digs respectively.

The Bulldogs (10-9, 5-3 SEC) fell in the first set after letting Auburn (5-11, 0-7 SEC) roll off seven straight points after Georgia held a 10-7 lead. The Tigers would not relinquish that lead and ended up taking the set 25-21.

Auburn controlled the second set, until a service error tied the set at 16-16 and Georgia won 9 of 13 points to finish off the set, on a kill from Clark, 25-20.

The third set furthered the see-sawing, as there were eight ties and five lead changes, but the Bulldogs again took control with the score tied 16-16.

Taylor would get two kills and an ace in the sets final ten points to give the Bulldogs the third set 25-20.

Georgia seemed to have complete control of the fourth set but lost a 12-7 lead as Auburn battled back. With the set tied at 20-20, the Tigers scored five straight to win the set 25-20 and send the match into a fifth and deciding set.

Georgia regrouped and jumped out to a set 6-1 lead before winning the set 15-10 on a Taylor kill.

Georgia will now have a week off before traveling to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to face Alabama Friday at 8 p.m..

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