Yepes dominates in 4-set win

After a rough start to the weekend in Chicago, Georgetown showed strong resolve the last 2 days, including a solid 4-set win over Indiana Tech on Saturday to close out the trip. Jose Acuna Yepes turned in his best performance as a Tiger by swatting 18 kills and hitting .413 in the win.

The Tigers fell behind in the opening set as Indiana Tech and scored 7 of the first 10 points. The Tigers responded with back-to-back kills from Miguel Ariza Vega to settle in. Down 9-7, the Tigers took 2 errors from the Warriors to tie the set and later got kills from Yepes and Adam Szewinski to cap a 6-2 run and take a 13-11 lead. Out of a Warrior timeout, Georgetown kept attacking. Another kill from Yepes, a tandem block by Vega and Robin Puss, followed by a Ben Meyers ace, and a Vega kill rocketed Georgetown to a 17-12 lead. Indiana Tech used its last timeout and began to turn things around. The Warriors scored 4 of the next 5 to get within 2. Georgetown kept a small lead and a Finn Heinemann kill gave the Tigers a 22-19 lead. It was the Tigers' last point of the set as Indiana Tech pulled off a stunning 6-0 rally to win the set 25-22.

Despite the setback, Georgetown flipped the first set upside down to start the 2nd. The Tigers jumped out to a big early lead by scoring 11 of the first 16 points. Jose Acuna Yepes tallied 3 kills in the hot start as Indiana Tech could not keep pace with the Georgetown offensive attack. The Warriors chipped away to get within 16-13 of Georgetown, but Yepes countered with 3 straight kills to push the GC lead to 19-14. From there, the Tigers cruised to a 25-19 set 2 win to even the match.

Indiana Tech jumped out to a quick 4-2 lead in the 3rd. Georgetown turned to Santino Zucchiati for back-to-back kills that jumpstarted a 5-0 run to put the Tigers ahead, 7-4, and send Indiana Tech to a timeout. The run proved the difference as Georgetown never trailed in the set again. Indiana Tech got as close as 1 at 9-8, but the Tigers scored 4 straight to reestablish control. The Warriors got within 2 on six different occasions, but no closer. Late kills from Adam Szewinski, Zucchiati and Robin Puss closed out a 25-20 win.

Jose Acuna Yepes started the 4th with a kill as one of Finn Heinemann's 49 assists. Robin Puss delivered 2 more as the Tigers took an early 3-1 lead. Indiana Tech came back to take a brief lead of 6-5, but Miguel Ariza Vega quickly tied the set and got Georgetown on to a run of 8-3, highlighted by 2 Finn Heinemann aces. The spurt gave the Tigers a 13-9 lead. The Warriors came back with the next 3 to tighten the set right back up. Georgetown had the answer in the form of another 8-3 run. The Tigers ramped up the defense, led by 2 blocks from Vega and 1 each from Szewinski and Zucchiati. The run gave Georgetown a 21-15 lead. Adam Szewinski put the bow on the match with his 9th kill to close out the set, 25-20, and clinch the 3-1 win.

The day belonged to Yepes as he finished with the 18 kills, while adding 3 aces and 4 digs on the outside. Robin Puss was strong on the opposite side with 11 kills and a .346 hitting percentage. Szewinski hit .438 to go with his 9 kills. Finn Heinemann dished out 49 assists to go with 7 digs and 3 aces. Ben Meyers paced the back line with 13 digs. Miguel Ariza Vega was dominant up front with 3 solo blocks and 8 kills.

The Tigers now get set for their home opener on Tuesday afternoon against Reinhardt. First serve from Davis-Reid Alumni Gym is set for 4:00pm.