ATLANTA--Redshirt junior Ana Paula Ferreira had 10 kills and 11 digs, but the Georgia State University volleyball team (6-11) dropped a 3-0 (30-22, 33-31, 30-17) decision to UAB Tuesday night at the Sports Arena.
The Panthers fell behind early in game one and never could seemingly gain any positive momentum in their favor, dropping the first frame 30-22. The score was tied at 7-all when UAB scored the next two points and would not be seriously threatened again in the game. The Blazers extended the lead to six at 16-10 before the Panthers rallied back with a 6-2 spurt to close within two, 18-16. But that was as close as game one would get, as UAB (14-5) doubled up Georgia State for the rest of the game to take it.
Game two was a much different story, and harkened back to 2002 when the two teams opened up a match at the Sports Arena with a game that was won by UAB 42-40, the longest in the history of either school. Tied at 15-each, freshman Jocelyn Waldern gave the Panthers the lead with a service ace. After the teams traded points, sophomore Leah Tenney's solo block made it 18-16. A kill by sophomore Michelle Trimble later, the Panthers were up 19-16 and UAB asked for time.
UAB cut it to 19-18 off the timeout, but the Panthers answered back by winning the next four points. A UAB service error, an ace by Trimble, and back-to-back kills by Ferreira gave the Panthers their largest lead. The Blazers weren't finished, as an 8-2 run gave the visitors a 26-25 lead. State came back with the next three points, leading 28-26 after a UAB attack error. The Blazers came back again, taking three points in a row for a 29-28 lead. Off a timeout by the home team, a kill by Trimble enabled State to fight off a game point and even the score. The Panthers could never get over the hump though; the Blazers would score and State would come back to tie two more occasions, but two kills in a row for UAB after the score was tied 31-all gave UAB the crucial game 33-31.
The last game was almost entirely in favor of UAB, as after an early 6-all tie, the visitors went on a 15-5 run to essentially seal the deal. The largest lead came at the end for the Blazers, as a service ace closed out State for a Tuesday night.
Trimble had a team-high 11 kills and five digs for State. Senior libero Christen Garcia had 10 digs, while freshman Noelle Boyd just missed a double-double with 25 assists and nine digs.
The Panthers will return to action Friday when they host Hofstra in Colonial Athletic Association play. Match time is set for 7:00 p.m.
