BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The Georgia Bulldogs rallied from a two-set deficit to comeback to defeat Long Island, 3-2, and claim the Courtyard LaGuardia Volleyball Classic title at the Wellness, Recreation and Athletic Center on Saturday night.

Both Georgia (8-2) and Long Island (3-7) entered the final match of the tournament with 2-0 marks setting up a true title match. The Bulldogs had shutout both Siena and Colgate, while the Blackbirds outlasted Colgate in five sets and also shutout Siena. After LIU took the first two sets, 28-26 and 27-25, UGA rallied to take the final three sets 25-21, 25-22 and 15-5, to earn the tournament title.

“Although we would have written the script in tonight’s match a little differently it was so great to watch the fight in this young group,” Georgia head coach Joel McCartney said. “Hopefully we are learning some valuable lessons along the way and can move into SEC play with some confidence. I would have loved to win in three but we really needed a five-set win to have something to fall back on when we find ourselves there again, and I am pretty sure we will.”

Siena edged Colgate in a five set match, 3-2, on Saturday afternoon to take third place behind Long Island.

In the title match against Long Island, Georgia posted a .235 hitting percentage while limiting Long Island to a .178 mark. Junior outside hitter Erika Clark led the Bulldogs with a career-high 19 kills on a .210 clip while adding 17 digs for her second double-double of the tournament. Clark’s effort was supported by a career-high marks in kills from junior middle hitter Valentina Gonzalez with 16, junior outside hitter Simone May with 14 and redshirt freshman opposite hitter Briana Bahr with 11.

Defensively, Gonzalez led the Bulldogs with a career-high nine blocks in the match while Bahr added a career-high eight and sophomore middle hitter Ann Dylla provided seven. Sophomore libero Carla Tietz posted a match-best and career-high 23 digs.

Following the conclusion of the LaGuardia Classic, Clark was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, and she was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Gonzalez and Tietz. Clark finished the two-day, three-match tournament with 41 kills at 3.73 per set to go along with 36 digs at 3.27 per set while Gonzalez recorded 28 kills and 21 blocks and Tietz provided 53 digs at 4.82 per set.

“It was great to have Erika’s steady play on our floor,” McCartney said. “She did so much for us this weekend and really deserved the Most Valuable Player award.”

Up next, Georgia will open Southeastern Conference play by going on the road next weekend. On Friday, the Bulldogs travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for a meeting with the Alabama Crimson Tide, and on Sunday, UGA will be in Starkville, Miss., to square off in a battle of Bulldogs against Mississippi State.

Courtyard LaGuardia Volleyball Classic Results:

Friday, Sept. 11
Georgia d. Siena, 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-20)
Long Island d. Colgate, 3-2 (25-23, 22-25, 32-30, 21-25, 15-8)

Saturday, Sept. 12
Georgia d. Colgate, 3-0 (25-15, 25-23, 25-20)
Long Island d. Siena, 3-0 (26-24, 26-24, 25-17)
Siena d. Colgate, 3-2 (18-25, 18-25, 25-23, 26-24, 15-10)
Georgia d. Long Island, 3-2 (26-28, 25-27, 25-21, 25-22, 15-5)

- Georgia Sports Communications