Tech report: Mead on national volleyball stage
Summer vacation is going to have to wait a little longer for Monique Mead.
Mead, the first Tech volleyball player to be named ACC freshman of the year since 2000, is one of 24 college players picked to USA Volleyball’s A2 team and shortly after the spring semester ends, she will train May 24-28 with the group in Tempe, Ariz.
At the conclusion of the training session, the players will be split into two squads to compete in the USA Open National championships May 29-June 1 at the Phoenix Convention Center.
Mead, an outside hitter from Newnan, and Tech junior setter Mary Ashley Tippins were among 175 collegiate players invited by USA Volleyball to tryouts in February at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
“I was surprised just seeing all the competition and everyone else that is trying out,” Mead said. “I wasn’t sure how I compared to the rest of them.”
The volleyball team this week began spring practice and will begin a limited spring competition schedule next month.
Baseball
For those wondering why junior Kevin Jacob didn't come in to close the Yellow Jackets' 6-5 victory against Georgia Tuesday, there is a two-part explanation. First, senior Andrew Robinson, who moved his record to 2-0 by pitching the final two innings (including Tech's go-ahead eighth) was throwing well enough that coach Danny Hall felt comfortable sticking with him. Also, Jacob has battled a tender shoulder for a couple weeks. He is expected to be available for this weekend's series at Maryland. ... Junior Derek Dietrich has started every game of his Tech career (134 straight) at shortstop. He already has been hit by a pitch 10 times this season after being plunked 16 times last season. ... The No. 3 Jackets (14-1) are hitting .357 as a team.
Women’s tennis
The No. 36 Jackets (7-5) have two huge non-conference matches at home this weekend and senior Amanda McDowell, the 2008 NCAA singles champion, may not play because of continued back trouble. Without McDowell, who has not competed in a couple weeks, sophomore Hillary Davis is most likely to play at No. 6 singles as multiple spots in the lineup change. Tech will host No. 12 Georgia Saturday at 1 p.m. and No. 17 Vanderbilt Sunday at 1 p.m. If the Jackets have another injury, they're out of players. There are seven women on the roster.
Track and field
Tech’s outdoor season begins Saturday at 4:15 p.m. for the men and women with a home meet against Georgia, just the second time in 20 years the schools have met head-to-head in a dual format. Last year was the first.
Etc.
Spring football practice will begin on March 29. The spring game will be April 24. ... As plans for an estimated $45-million basketball "replacement" arena continue to be discussed -- athletics director Dan Radakovich has said he does not want to call it a "renovation" project because the scope is so large -- the goal remains to open the facility for the 2012-13 season. ... Other facilities on the Georgia Tech Athletic Association's wish list include enclosure of a football practice field ($5 million), upgraded tennis facilities, including expansion from three to six indoor courts ($5 million), and a new golf practice facility ($7.5 million).
