University of Louisville
vs Georgia<br>Irish Thanksgiving Invitational
No. 9-ranked Volleyball Curbs Georgia Bulldogs
November 25, 2005 | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 25, 2005
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Lena Ustymenko had 23 kills, an ace and a block to lead the University of Louisville to a 30-21, 30-25, 30-19 win over University of Georgia in Notre Dame's Irish Thanksgiving Invitational on Friday afternoon in South Bend.
U of L improves to 28-2 while Georgia finishes their season at 10-18.
U of L outhit the Bulldogs .384 to .222 and outblocked them 8-4. Georgia committed 11 service errors and were aced six times.
"These matches can be dangerous because you sometimes have a tendency to play not to lose rather than to win," said Leonid Yelin, U of L head coach. "Luckily our seniors stepped up and made sure that didn't happen."
U of L used an 11-2 run midway through the second game to put the Georgia Bulldogs on the defensive. U of L hit .353 for the game and Georgia did not help itself with five serviced errors and .139 hitting. Ustymenko had seven kills in the first set to lead the Cardinals.
The Bulldog's .385 hitting gave them lead until U of L scored on one of Ustymenko's nine kills in the second game to go up 19-18 for its first lead. Georgia scrambled back, retaking the lead at 21-20 on two straight kills by Maria Taylor. U of L retook the lead for good at 23-22 on yet another Ustymenko kill. U of L had a 6-1 run at the end to close the door with the 30-25 win and take a 2-0 game lead into the lockerroom at the break.
In the final set, U of L never trailed and used a 10-2 run down the stretch for the win.
Ana Yartseva came through with 10 kills and a torrid .769 hitting and four blocks. Jennifer Hoffman had seven kills and a block.
Georgia was led by freshman Maria Taylor's 11 kills.
U of L takes on Rice Saturday at 4:30 in the Joyce Center.
