>> GEORGIA COLLEGE
Georgia College & State University (8-10, 4-3 PBC) took both a midweek win out-of-conference over Albany State University and a midweek loss to conference foe Augusta University.
The Bobcats took on Albany State Sept. 27, and took the 3-1 win. GCSU was able to shuffle in players that hadn’t seen the court this season. Freshman Maddie Gilmartin from Kennesaw saw her first action of the season playing two sets, earning a kill and a dig. Fellow classmate from Enterprise, Ala., Hannah Chang also saw the court for the first time this season.
Chang played one set in the contest. Sophomore Hayley Shepherd, hailing from Warner Robins, saw her first action since last season. Shepherd had an incredible game off the bench playing three sets and earning four block assists, a kill, a dig and an assist.
Through four sets there were two Bobcats will 10 kills. Flagler College transfer, Rachel Machovec hailing from Buckhead, was the only outside hitter to secure double-digit kills.
Machovec had herself a double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs in an impressive out-of-conference outing. She also added two service aces and two block assists to her line score. The middle from Rome Brooke Roberts was the second Bobcat to have 10 kills as she hit .435 on the night.
She added two digs and three blocks to her already impressive blocking season.
Both setters for GCSU, the Mooresville, N.C. native Emily Long and the Cumming native Riese Johnson, had stellar nights. Long had 14 assists and six digs with Johnson having 13 assists and three digs. For the defense the libero from Auburn, Alanis Bernis, led the team with 17 digs to add to her already impressive freshman campaign.
GCSU played yet another midweek match, this time taking on Augusta. The Jaguars took the three-set win on Oct. 4 at home. Machovec was the star of the night for the Bobcats as she nabbed yet another double-double. She had 15 kills and 13 digs to lead both the defense and the offense.
Roberts made her presence known at the net as she stuffed five blocks, including two solos, right back at the Augusta hitters. Long led the Bobcats in assists, adding 12 to her season total with Johnson contributing 10.
Machovec was the lone veteran outside hitter in the lineup for GCSU as Ally Hall, the Cumming native did not travel due to a nondisclosed injury. The timetable for her return is unknown, so for the time being the right side from Allatoona Callie Miller will take over the right side as the second outside hitter in the rotation.
The Bobcats are back in action Friday, Oct. 7 on the road at USC Aiken. In their previous matchup, the Bobcats took the three-set win to start the conference season hot.
Live stats and broadcast links will be available at GCBobcats.com with the first serve set for 6 p.m.