The Georgia State University volleyball team fell to host Denver and UNLV on Saturday at the Denver Invitational. State fell to 0-12 on the season, but will now return home for five of their next six matches after only playing one home match over the first 12.
In the Panthers first match on Saturday, State fell to Denver (9-2) in three sets. After coming out sluggish in the first set, falling 25-10, the Panthers would find their rhythm in the second. State would take an early 5-4 lead on a kill by junior Jocelyn Waldern. The Pioneers would go on a 7-2 run to take an 11-6 lead on a kill by Denver's Alexis Ninos. State would cut the deficit to three at 19-16 on a kill by sophomore Ashley Jones. Unfortunately, that is as close as the Panthers would get, falling 25-19 in the second.
State would come out strong early in the third and on a kill by Jones, would trail by one at 5-4. The Pioneers would go on a 9-3 run to take a 14-7 lead, but State would continue to battle and on two kills by freshman Torrie Brown and several errors by Denver, State would cut the lead to 20-17. The two teams would exchange points and State would still trail by three, but that is as close as they would get as Denver took the set 25-21.
State was led by Jones and senior Liz Schaab who each had seven kills, while Waldern added five. Junior Jessica Tjaden added 21 assists.
Denver was led by Jacqueline Paul's 11 kills, while Kerry Porter added 10. Clare Maxwell added 39 assists for the Pioneers.
The Panthers would struggle to find their rhythm against UNLV (7-6), falling in three. The Panthers would take the lead 3-1, but the Runnin' Rebels would go on a 17-3 run to take an 18-6 lead. From that point forward, State would play even with UNLV, before falling 25-13.
State would once again take the lead early in the second set, leading 2-0, and would tie the match at three. The Runnin' Rebels would go on a 6-1 run to take a 9-4 lead. From that point forward, the closest that State would get would be was three points before falling 25-14 in the second.
The Panthers would start slow in the third set, falling behind 5-1 and 11-3. State would go on a 10-1 run, which included three kills by Waldern to cut the deficit to 14-13. However, a 7-1 run by UNLV would put the set away, as State lost the third 25-19.
Georgia State was led by Schaab's nine kills, while Jones and Waldern added five a piece. Tjaden added 24 assists while redshirt sophomore Audrey Cantrell added 12 digs.
Cursty Jackson led UNLV with nine kills, while Sara Nehf added seven. Melody Nua added 15 assists, while Camille Cunningham had 12 digs.
The Panthers will return to Atlanta and face CAA defending champion Delaware on Friday night at 5:30. Admission to the Sports Arena is free.
