KENNESAW, Ga. ? The Georgia State volleyball team got its groove back Tuesday night, as the Panthers defeated in-state rival Kennesaw State 3-0 (30-23, 30-17, 30-26) in the team's final non-conference match of the regular season.
The teams traded points throughout much of the opening game before Georgia State (11-9) broke the final stalemate at 21 when Ashley Jones converted a kill. The Panthers picked up the pace at the end, finishing the game on a 9-2 run en route to the 30-23 game-one victory. With Noelle Boyd serving, Georgia State reeled off six straight points including a pair of kills from Jocelyn Waldern and one from Lindsay Casey during the sequence.
Georgia State broke away early in game two, taking a 14-9 lead before Kennesaw State (3-17) called a timeout. The Panthers maintained their rhythm and expanded their lead in the second stanza, pushing out to a 25-17 margin before the Owls called their second timeout of the game. Following the timeout, Waldern continued her service for the Panthers as Georgia State closed the game out with consecutive kills from Alysa Long and Rachel Boryc.
The Panthers had an all-around solid performance in game two with a .370 hitting percentage while limiting the Owls to a .000 attacking percentage. During the game, Georgia State recorded just four errors in 27 total attacks.
The Panthers and Owls stayed close during most of the third game before Georgia State took a 18-16 lead. However, Kennesaw State clawed its way back into the game to take a 22-20 lead. Following a Georgia State timeout, the Panthers knotted the frame at 22 after a kill from NAME and a service ace from Emily Dewey. With a 27-25 advantage, Georgia State closed the game and match out with a 3-1 spurt. Alysa Long setup game point for the Panthers with a kill and Liz Schaab sealed the deal with another kill.
“I am very proud of how we played in game three,” said head coach Mike Webster. “The team on the court at that time was extremely young with four freshman, two sophomores and a senior at the libero spot.
“I told the team between games two and three that I wanted to stay focused so we could finish the game the same way we started it,” Webster added.
Waldern led the Panthers with eight kills and five blocks. Casey, who returned to the scene of her knee injury at the beginning of the 2006 season, finished the match with five kills and one block. Dewey and Levesseur topped Georgia State with seven and six digs respectively.
Georgia State returns to action at home on Saturday against Colonial Athletic Association foe UNC Wilmington. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m.
