In the team’s second match of the year in Sun Belt play, Georgia State volleyball swept the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks 3-0 at the Fant Ewing Coliseum.
The opening set would be close for its majority as the Panthers would obtain a 9-8 lead early. Georgia State would also post leads of 16-13 and 20-17, the latter of which prompted a timeout from Warhawks coach Patrick Hiltz. Five consecutive Panthers points paved the way to the 25-17 victory in the opening set.
Frame number two also resulted in the Panthers and Warhawks playing neck and neck. The two teams were tied at six apiece, then had a slight 13-11 advantage. Georgia State expanded its lead to five at 20-15, before ULM closed their deficit to two at 21-19 and then to one at 24-23. A 3-0 Panthers run sealed the second set victory at 26-24.
The Panthers began the third set strong with a 4-1 lead out of the gate. That lead later became 10-5 Georgia State and, later, 18-9. The Warhawks furiously rallied to close the set within six, but the Panthers won the set 25-16 to win the game and the match.
Kitan Ajanaku and Kristina Stinson each had nine kills apiece where Eliza Zachary had eight. Gabby Serafin also contributed 11 digs. On the UL-Monroe side, Taylor Zaeske led her team with eight kills. Marcela Araya finished with 18 assists.
Georgia State’s next match will be against the South Alabama Jaguars on Sunday in Mobile, Ala.
