Led by sophomore Ashley Jones' second consecutive triple-double, the Georgia State Volleyball team earned a huge win over UNC-Wilmington (5-11, 0-3 CAA) on Saturday afternoon. Having played a difficult non-conference schedule and struggling through several injuries to key players, the Panthers (1-15, 1-2 CAA) never gave in to put together their most complete performance of the year in earning their first victory of the season, 3-2.
“I couldn't be happier with our teams' performance today,” commented Head Coach Mike Webster. “In the three sets that we won, our side-out percentage performance was great, especially in the final set when we needed it.”
Jones, who took over for the injured Jessica Tjaden at setter, scored a team-high 19 kills, to go along with 18 assists and 11 digs in the five-set thriller. Not to be outdone were senior Liz Schaab (11 kills and 14 digs) and sophomore Rachel Boryc (28 assists and 19 digs) who each scored double-doubles.
“Ashley's performance with back-to-back triple-doubles was incredible,” stated Webster. “It was truly an all-around great team effort. With only nine players, we are going to have to have a balanced offense for success and each player is going to have to have certain responsibilities for us to succeed. The effort was evident today.”
The two teams would open the first set exchanging points as the set was tied 5-5 early. The Seahawks would go on a 4-0 run to take a 9-5 lead. State would cut the lead to two points on several occasions, including 18-16, but that is as close as the Panthers would get, falling in the first, 25-22.
State would come out strong in the second set, taking an early 6-3 lead off of an ace by Jones. The Seahawks would tie the match at 12-12 on an error by junior Jocelyn Waldern and tie the match again at 15-15 on a kill by UNCW's Paula McConnell, however the Seahawks would never get the lead as State would take the second set 25-20.
The Seahawks would come out firing in the third set and get the Panthers completely out their rhythm. State would take an early 1-0 lead, however UNCW would go on a 10-3 run to take a 10-4 lead. The Seahawks would continue to dominate the set, going up 16-5 on a Georgia State service error. The Panthers would try to get back into the set late, but it would not be enough as UNCW would take the third set, 25-13.
With their backs against the wall, State would come out strong in the fourth set and go up 3-0 on a kill by Schaab. The Panthers would go up 9-5 on an attack error by Seahawk Jennifer Mallard, taking their biggest lead of the set. However, UNCW would use a 4-0 run to tie the set at 9-9. The teams would exchange the next eight points, before the Seahawks would take a two-point lead at 15-13. State would continue to battle, but trail 20-17 toward the end of the set. Using a 6-3 run, the Panthers tied the set at 23-23 on a ball-handling error by UNCW's Jacqueline Crane. After State earned a set point, UNCW tied the set at 24-24. On a kill by UNCW's Lindsey Struko, the Seahawks would earn their first match point of the day, but the Panthers would not be denied. With two attack errors by Strucko and ace by Waldern, the Panthers took the fourth set, 27-25.
The fifth and deciding set would be as exciting. This would mark the third time in the last four matches that State and the opposition went five sets.
On an attack error by Mallard, the Panthers would take an early 3-1 lead. The Seahawks would tie the match at 6-6 and take an 8-7 lead midway through the set. The two teams would continue to exchange points with the Panthers earning their first match point of the season at 14-13, but the Seahawks would not allow it to be that easy. After calling a time-out, Strucko's kill tied the set at 14-14. State would once again take the lead on a kill by Waldern, earning another match-point, but the Seahawks would come right back with a kill by Nash to tie it at 15-15. Freshman Torrie Brown would earn only her second kill of the match, but it would come at the right time, as State took a 16-15 lead. The Panthers would put the set and match away on an attack error by Rachel Caricato, earning the 17-15 win.
Senior Michelle Trimble would add 12 kills for the Panthers, while redshirt-sophomore Audrey Cantrell had a team-high 23 digs.
UNC-Wilmington was led by Strucko's 16 kills and 17 digs, while Crane added 56 assists and 19 digs. Ashlyn Morris added a team high 24 digs.
The Panthers will return home for a brief two-match CAA homestand starting next weekend, as State will face George Mason on Friday night. The match begins at 5:30 p.m. and admission to the Sports Arena is free of charge.
