“The environment was something that we’d under no circumstances played in prior to,” said Bulldogs middle blocker Maddy Cardenas. “It was loud and it felt quite hefty and it was extreme, and we beloved it. I think we prosper under an atmosphere like that.”

Indeed, whilst Tech (24-5) was awarded the No. 8 national seed and The Citadel (14-12) was the shock champion of the Southern Conference tournament, the Bulldogs ended up resolute, earning the Jackets force for their 25-21, 25-15, 28-26 get. The Citadel was producing its initially NCAA Event visual appeal considering that the crew was formed in 1998.

“Citadel played a terrific match,” Collier mentioned. “Not an uncomplicated crew at all. So we’re surely very happy to appear out of there with a sweep.”

The Bulldogs fought off five match details in advance of a block at the internet by the a few-individual wall of setter Isabella D’Amico, outdoors hitter Julia Bergmann and Moss secured the match for the Jackets. Tech will confront Western Kentucky (which defeated South Carolina) Saturday at 7 p.m. at O’Keefe for a location in the Sweet 16. The Jackets have not highly developed to that phase because 2004.

Bergmann, who this week was named the ACC player of the calendar year, admitted to becoming anxious at the start of the match.

“It’s a great nervous, but, yeah, it’s an important match,” Bergmann mentioned.

She was the match’s dominant determine, blistering Citadel’s side of the courtroom with a match-higher 16 kills. At 6-foot-5 with excellent leaping ability, Bergmann was a great deal to tackle.

“I imagine measurement is an intimating detail for us no matter of someone’s potential to hit or leap or block, something like that,” Cardenas said. “You just look at them and you are like, wow, she most likely can do some remarkable items. And she could. And it was just a matter of being steady with our activity and creating positive that we stick to what we know and do what we know effectively.”

Moss scored 10 kills, as did ideal-aspect hitter Mariana Brambilla.

Tech is in the NCAA Event for the second 12 months in a row, a first for the Jackets considering the fact that generating five tournaments in a row from 2000-04. Tech traveled as a result of dry ground from there, making the tournament after from 2005-2019. Collier was employed prior to…