MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – Rebounding well from dropping a match to the same team last night, the Georgia College & State University Volleyball team (7-9, 4-2 PBC) upset Peach Belt Conference (PBC) leader Lander University (11-4, 5-2 PBC) in four sets Friday in the Centennial Center.

Lander looked dominant in the first set, winning 25-15. The Bobcats needed extra points to bring things even in set two, winning 26-24. GCSU then closed the match with 25-18 and 25-23 scores for the upset.

"It's always good to win at home," said head coach Gretchen Krumdieck. "The first set we were a little rocky, so it's a moral victory more than anything that when we didn't have it in the first set, we were still able to complete the comeback and take the next three."

Preseason All-PBC pick Rachel Machovec (Buckhead) made her presence felt, pounding out 20 kills with 17 digs, hitting a solid .241. She also added three total blocks, finishing with 22 points on the day.

The blocking was big for GCSU today, and none bigger than sophomore Brooke Roberts (Rome) who set a school record with 12 blocks for the match. The old record was 10, set originally by Bailey Freeman in 2014, and matched by Mary Kate Kotzin just last season. Junior Callie Miller (Acworth) helped the front line with nine blocks as well. The team finished with 18 total blocks, tying the school record, set in 2021 against Albany State University.

Both setters posted double-doubles for the second-straight bout, as senior Emily Long (Mooresville, North Carolina) had 19 assists and 17 digs, while freshman Riese Johnson (Cumming) posted 12 assists and brought in 10 digs. Freshman Alanis Bernis (Auburn) and sophomore Ally Hall (Cumming) aided the defense with 15 and 13 digs, respectively.

Long and Hall each tallied services aces today, giving them both 44 in their respective careers. That number ties the duo with Caroline Ham (2015) for eighth in school history.  

The Bobcats are back in action Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m., playing host to Albany State.

As a proud recipient of the 2021 PBC Sportsmanship Institution of the Year, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GC Athletics is now two-time winners of both the PBC Commissioner's Cup and the league's sportsmanship honor. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' continued appearances in post-season competition as well as high-level academic success and community-service involvement. Bobcat Athletics embodies the mantra of "Graduating Champions for Life." Sign up at @GCBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports.