Georgia State volleyball completed the Jax Marriott Volleyball Classic over the weekend as they won the first match, but lost in the last two to bring their record to 2-5 and the year. It was the second weekend series that the team has played so far.
Match 1: 3-2 win over Bethune-Cookman
In the first set, the score was tied at 3-3 before the Wildcats went on a huge run to pull ahead to a 14-7 advantage. Bethune-Cookman would eventually go on to be victorious in the opening set by a score of 25-16.
The Panthers came out strong in the second set as they went ahead 5-2 as it began. That lead eventually was extended to 11-3. A Morgan Patterson kill would close out the second set for Georgia State as they won 25-14.
Set number three was more competitive than the first two. The Panthers eventually would pull to a 19-15 lead as Eliza Zachary pitched in with seven kills at this point. This one would also go to Georgia State 25-22 to put them up 2-1 in the match.
The Wildcats were not finished yet as they took the fourth set 25-21. It was the first time on the season that the Panthers have had to go the full five sets.
The two teams were all even at five to begin the match after the Panthers started scoring five of the first six points. Georgia State then pulled ahead by three before Bethune-Cookman trimmed their deficit to 12-11 with a kill from Hazel Ortiz Rosado. Rhea Simon also kept the Wildcats within one at 13-12 Panthers, but Georgia State would win the set and the match 15-12. Deidra Bohannon led all players with 15 kills. Zachary had 12 kills and Gabby Serafin contributed 14 digs.
On the Wildcats’ side, Simon had 12 kills while Ortiz Rosado finished with 23 assists.
Match 2: 3-0 Loss to North Florida
The Panthers would play North Florida later that Friday after defeating Bethune-Cookman. The Ospreys lost in straight sets earlier that day to Florida Atlantic.
North Florida would begin strong with leads of 4-0 and 8-4 to begin the frame. The lead would extend to 13-7 before Natalia Nieto led a Georgia State rally to bring her team within three at 21-18. The Ospreys would eventually win the first set 25-22.
The Ospreys would lead from start to finish throughout set number two, including leads of 16-9 and 22-13. The Panthers were able to get within six, but a Bohannon error led to a set winning ace by North Florida’s Carinne Turner sealed the second set 25-16.
After both teams went back and forth throughout a good portion of the third set, the Ospreys eventually extended their lead to four at 18-14. Georgia State would pull to within two, but North Florida would clinch the set and the match with a 25-21 victory. Bohannon led the way for the Panthers with 11 kills and seven digs while Zachary and Andrea’ Ezell each had a pair of blocks.
Courtney Miller finished with 11 kills and Turner put up 32 assists in a winning effort for the Ospreys.
Match #3: 3-2 Loss to Jacksonville
The first two sets would end at 25-18 and 25-23 for Jacksonville and Georgia State, respectively. The Dolphins would also claim the third set by a final of 25-17.
The Panthers would start the fourth set 5-2 before Jacksonville would go ahead 12-10. Errors by the Dolphins would lead to the Panthers assuming the advantage at 20-14. Jacksonville would rally to bring the score to within three late before Georgia State held on to a 25-23 lead to force set number five.
An 8-8 tie would start out the final set before the Dolphins took a 10-8 advantage. The Panthers would tie it up at 11 as Zachary tied her career high in kills with 21. It wouldn’t be enough for Georgia State as the Dolphins pulled away late to win the set and the match 15-12.
In addition to Zachary’s kills, Molly Shonk also finished with 20 digs.
Sammie Strausbaugh led the Dolphins with 26 kills and the same amount of digs. Jizzian Gesualdo ended up with 50 assists.
Georgia State’s next matches will be this upcoming weekend as they will travel to Boone, North Carolina to take part in the Black and Gold Challenge hosted by Appalachian State. The Panthers will play the Mountaineers on Friday as well as Maryland and Radford on Saturday.
