GREENSBORO, N.C. – Junior outside hitter Julia Bergmann has been named ACC Player of the Week for the second time this season after leading No. 16 Georgia Tech volleyball to a historic weekend, the league office announced on Tuesday.
With the recognition, Bergmann picks up her third career ACC Player of the Week honor and fifth total Atlantic Coast Conference weekly award after being tabbed ACC Freshman of the Week twice in her first season on The Flats.
Bergmann receives the honor after propelling Georgia Tech to a sweep of Virginia and a five-set victory over previously undefeated No. 4 Pitt (formerly No. 2) for the highest ranked win and second top-five triumph in program history. Bergmann spearheaded the Tech attack, piling up 42 kills (5.25 per set) at a robust .410 clip including a pair of aces along with 15 digs and five total blocks (one solo, four assisted) through the two matches.
Against Virginia, the veteran outside hitter tallied a team-high 18 kills at a gaudy .441 clip while adding nine digs and a block assist defensively on the way to the sweep. Bergmann came out of the gates firing against the Hoos, earning the first three kills in the match and eight total in the first set, including the final two points to set the Jackets on the path to victory.
Bergmann furthered her success into one of Tech’s biggest wins in program history as she piled up 24 kills at a solid .386 clip, including a pair of aces as well as six digs and four total blocks (one solo, three assisted) in the triumph over Pitt. Tech’s leading attacker was vital in the monumental win, being responsible for set point in both the second and third sets as well as four kills and a block assist in the paramount fifth set.
Bergmann’s solid weekend follows up on last week’s competition in which she compiled 30 kills against Notre Dame, the highest total by not only any Yellow Jacket this season, but also any player in the ACC to date. On top of already owning one ACC Player of the Week honor prior to this week, the heavy hitter also boasts a national AVCA Player of the Week award, both from the opening week of the season. Throughout nonconference play, Bergmann was named UCF Challenge MVP and to three all-tournament teams as well.
The decorated Jacket’s numbers back up her accolades as she’s among the nation’s best in multiple categories. To date, the veteran has led the Jacket attack with 266 kills (4.59 per set) and 22 service aces along with pitching in on the defensive end with 158 digs and 31 total blocks (15 solo, 16 assisted). On a national scale, those marks currently place her 9th in the country in points per set (5.36) and 12th in the nation in kills per set (4.59), leading the ACC in both categories. Other notable numbers include ranking second in the ACC and 23rd in the NCAA in points (311) while slotting third in the conference and 26th in the country in kills (266).
Up Next
Georgia Tech will make a short trip to Clemson for a midweek matchup on Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Clemson, S.C. before returning home to host Duke on Sunday at 2 p.m. in O’Keefe Gymnasium. Coverage information is available here.
