TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Georgia volleyball rallied from two sets to one down to beat Alabama 3-2 on Sunday at Foster Auditorium, improving the Bulldogs to 12-3 overall and 4-1 in the SEC.
Senior Bianna Muoneke carried the offense with 29 kills, tying her career best, including 10 in the must-win fourth set. She added eight digs and five blocks. It was her fourth 20-kill match in the last five.
Blocking decided the match. Georgia finished with 19 team blocks to Alabama nine, the most by an SEC team this season and tied for third-most in a five-set match at Georgia. Graduate Kendal Kemp had a season-high 11 blocks and 10 kills for her first double-double as a Bulldog.
Alabama won the opener 25-21 after a late 7-1 run, and Georgia evened the match in the second set while hitting .310. After the Tide took the third, the Bulldogs hit .344 in the fourth and then .583 in the deciding fifth set.
Fifth-year libero Ana Julia Bleeker posted a career-high 17 digs, and sophomore setter Chloe Elarton had 40 assists and 12 digs for her sixth double-double. The match had 30 ties and 15 lead changes.
Several Bulldogs helped at the net. Graduate Tori Harper added eight blocks, senior Kaiya Tyson tied a career best with five and Alex Richter set a career best with four. Senior outside hitter Alyssa Worden chipped in 10 digs.
Alabama, now 9-6 and 1-5 in the SEC, got a career-high 21 kills from Laney Hennessee, 18 from Mya Allen and 16 from Kaleigh Palmer. Setter Hannah Parant had 51 assists. The Tide outkilled Georgia 66-55 but could not get past the Bulldogs at the net, and it plays next at Vanderbilt on Friday.
