Georgia Bulldogs women's volleyball

Georgia Bulldogs women's volleyball
Founded1978; 46 years ago (1978)
UniversityUniversity of Georgia
Athletic directorJosh Brooks
Head coachTom Black (7th season)
ConferenceSEC
LocationAthens, Georgia
Home arenaStegeman Coliseum (capacity: 10,523)
NicknameBulldogs
ColorsRed and black[1]
   
AIAW/NCAA regional semifinal
1985, 1986, 1993
AIAW/NCAA Tournament appearance
1985, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2004, 2013, 2019, 2022, 2023
Conference tournament champion
1985
Conference regular season champion
1985, 1986

The Georgia Bulldogs women's volleyball team competes as part of NCAA Division I, representing the University of Georgia in the Southeastern Conference. Georgia plays its home games at the Stegeman Coliseum.[2]

History[edit]

Early years[edit]

Georgia's first volleyball season came in 1978 under head coach Sid Feldman. They finished their first season with a record of 17–19.[3]

Under Feldman, the Bulldogs would show improvement each year and in 1982 started the season 25-0 and finished the season 41–12.[3] Three seasons later in 1985 Feldman lead the team to an SEC regular season championship and SEC tournament championship, earning a bid to the 1985 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament, the first NCAA volleyball championship appearance in program history.[4][5][6] Georgia beat Florida State in the first round but would lose to UCLA in the second round.[3]

One season later in 1986, Georgia would maintain this success by winning the SEC regular season championship and make the NCAA volleyball championship for the second year in a row.[6] They beat Texas A&M in the first round but lost to Texas in the second.[3]

Sid Feldman was replaced as head coach by Jim Lams in 1989.[3]

Sustaining success[edit]

Jim Lams first season in 1989 showed immediate success, going 30-4 and making the National Invitational Volleyball Championship.[7] One season later in 1990 they would make the NIVC for the second year in a row, this time making the semifinals.[7]

In 1991, Georgia went 28-8 and made the 1991 NCAA women's volleyball tournament, where they lost to Texas Tech in the first round.[3]

Under coach Lams, Georgia made five straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 1991 to 1995, including making the third round in 1993 and making the second round in 1994 and 1995.[8][3]

Middle years[edit]

After lack of success after the 1995 season, Jim Lams was replaced as head coach by Mary Buczek in 2000.

Under Buczek the Bulldogs would see seasons with average records, until 2004 when the team went 18-12 and made the 2004 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament, they would lose to Georgia Tech in the first round. Buczek would retire after the 2004 season.[9]

After the 2004 season, Georgia would have middling success, not making any NCAA tournaments until 2013 under coach Lizzy Stemke.[10]

Modern era[edit]

In 2017 Georgia hired Tom Black, former Loyola Marymount coach, as their next head coach.[11][12] In Tom Black's first season, the team went 22-12 and made the third round of the NIVC.[13]

Coach Black has led the Bulldogs to two NCAA tournaments since 2017, one in 2019 and one in 2022.[14][15][16] The 2019 team lost in the first round to Cal Poly.[17] The 2022 team made the second round, beating Towson then losing to Texas.[15][18]

As of 2023 Georgia has an all-time record of 904–604.[3]

Coaches[edit]

Coaching history[edit]

Georgia women's volleyball has had eight head coaches.

No. Coach Tenure Overall Conference Achievements
1 Sid Feldman 1978-1988 318-135 (.702) 21-16 (.568) 1985, 1986 NCAA tournament appearance
2 Jim Lams 1989-1999 243-119 (.671) 94-48 (.662) 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 NCAA tournament appearance
3 Mary Buczek 2000-20004 82-69 (.543) 37-39 (.487) 2004 NCAA tournament appearance
4 Steffi Legal 2005-2006 16-43 (.271) 7-29 (.194)
5 Joel McCartney 2007-2010 62-55 (.530) 28-45 (.384) 2007 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament appearance
6 Chad Hanson 2010 4-3 (.571) 4-3 (.571)
7 Lizzy Stemke 2011-2016 79-105 (.429) 32-80 (.286) 2013 NCAA tournament appearance
8 Tom Black 2017–present 100-75 (.571) 57-55 (.509) 2019, 2022 NCAA tournament appearance

Source:[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ University of Georgia Brand Guide (PDF). June 26, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  2. ^ "Facility - Stegeman Coliseum - Volleyball". University of Georgia Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "UGA Volleyball Record Book – July23" (PDF). University of Georgia Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  4. ^ "UGA volleyball 'pioneers' recall winning 1985 SEC Tournament". Online Athens. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  5. ^ "Bulldogs Open NCAA Volleyball Tournament Thursday in Texas". 95.5 WSB. 2022-11-30. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  6. ^ a b "Volleyball SEC Champions". www.secsports.com. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  7. ^ a b Writer, Janey Murray | Staff (2017-11-27). "Georgia volleyball to host first and second rounds of NIVC Tournament". The Red and Black. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  8. ^ "Women's Volleyball - History". University of Georgia Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  9. ^ "Buzcek to Retire as Georgia Volleyball Coach". University of Georgia Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  10. ^ "Stemke leads Bulldogs to first NCAA tournament in nine years". Online Athens. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  11. ^ "Tom Black Named Volleyball Head Coach". University of Georgia Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  12. ^ "Details on salary, contract length for new UGA volleyball coach". Online Athens. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  13. ^ Writer, Tommy Boyd | Staff (2017-11-30). "Georgia volleyball moves past UCF in straight sets at NIVC tournament". The Red and Black. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  14. ^ "Details on UGA coach's new deal after program's best season in more than 25 years". Online Athens. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  15. ^ a b "Bulldogs Open NCAA Volleyball Tournament Thursday in Texas". 95.5 WSB. 2022-11-30. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  16. ^ "Georgia volleyball gets in NCAA Tourney". Online Athens. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  17. ^ "Cal Poly defeats Georgia volleyball in first round of NCAA tournament". 7 December 2019.
  18. ^ "Georgia Topples No. 8 Towson, Advances to Second Round of NCAA Tournament". University of Georgia Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-22.