Burling Leads Duke To 3-2 Win Over Georgia Tech

Friday, October 10

Atlanta, Ga.

7:00 p.m.

Duke University

Georgia Tech

Burling Pounds 19 Kills In Saturday Volleyball Scrimmage

Burling Leads Duke To 3-2 Win Over Georgia Tech

10/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball

By: Duke Sports Information

ATLANTA, Ga. ? Duke sophomore Becci Burling put down a career-high 18 kills and eight blocks to lead Duke to a 3-2 (25-21, 22-25, 25-22, 20-25, 18-16) win over Georgia Tech Friday evening in O'Keefe Gym.

Burling hit .500 on 28 attacks in the match and accounted for a career-high 24.0 points for the Blue Devils (13-5, 4-2 ACC), who locked up the win with a slim 18-16 victory in the fifth set. A 6-1 middle blocker, Burling also contributed a service ace and made just four attack errors on the night.

Burling's 18 kills led four Blue Devils who reached double figures, including Rachael Moss (16), Sophia Dunworth (15) and Jourdan Norman (10). Moss recorded her 10th double-double of the season for Duke, while freshman setter Kellie Catanach also doubled up with 55 assists and 13 digs.

Freshman Amanda Robertson led Duke defensively with 19 digs, which was just one shy of her career high. Libero Claire Smalzer also contributed 18, while Dunworth was one dig shy of her third double-double with nine.

Georgia Tech (11-5, 3-3 ACC), which entered the match tied with Duke in the ACC standings, hit .200 against Duke and matched the Blue Devils with 15.5 blocks, but made a combined 11 errors in the serving game ? six serving and five receiving. Talisa Kellogg led the way offensively with 19 digs, while Callie Miller put down 16 kills at a .353 clip.

The win against the Yellow Jackets gives Duke a slight bump in the conference standings and the opportunity to jump into the top three when the Blue Devils head to Clemson, S.C., on Saturday. Duke will face the Tigers at 6 p.m. in a showdown that features the defending ACC Champs in Clemson and last season's runner-up in Duke.

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