Tide Volleyball Grabs Season's First SEC Win

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The University of Alabama volleyball team rallied from a 2-1 match deficit to grab a five-set victory over Georgia on Sunday, marking its first Southeastern Conference (SEC) win of the season.

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Alabama (9-5, 1-2 SEC) needed a win in the fourth set to stay in the match and the Crimson Tide delivered, defeating the Bulldogs 25-18 to force a decisive fifth set. Alabama then clinched the match with a 15-11 victory, marking its first home win against Georgia since 2015.

"I'm incredibly proud of our team, " Tide head coach Rashinda Reed said. "We were relentless about focusing on the little things. This team doesn't give up; they fight constantly until the end."

The match opened with both teams exchanging wins in the first two sets, but Georgia (6-7, 0-3 SEC) took the third set 25-22 for a 2-1 lead.

Alabama quickly established control in the fourth set, though, leading 12-7 before Georgia used both its timeouts. The Bulldogs narrowed the gap to three points, however, but Alabama maintained its advantage to take the set.

The teams remained close in the fifth set, going back and forth until a kill from Sophie Agee — a junior from Houston — gave Alabama an 8-5 lead at the midway point.

St. Petersburg, Florida native Chaise Campbell, a graduate student, delivered a kill to set up match point at 14-8 before Georgia fought back, scoring three consecutive points before Alabama called a timeout.

Kaleigh Palmer, a sophomore from Wapakoneta, Ohio, sealed the victory for Alabama after the break with a line shot, confirmed by a review, ensuring Alabama's win.

The Crimson Tide will return to action on Friday, Oct. 11 at Missouri.

The match is set to begin at 7 p.m.

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