The Georgia State University volleyball team fell in their CAA opener Friday night to defending conference champion Delaware, 3-2, in a thrilling five set match. Playing without junior setter Jessica Tjaden due to an injury and with only eight healthy players, Head Coach Mike Webster used a dual-setter approach that was almost enough to get past the Blue Hens (5-10, 1-0 CAA).
“We did a really good job accomplishing the things that we have been working on tonight,” commented Webster. “I told the team that we can't control the wins and losses, but we can control the things on our side of the net and I think we did a really fine job of that tonight.”
Sophomore Ashley Jones came up one kill shy of a triple-double, scoring nine kills, 26 assists and 11 digs, while senior Liz Schaab was one dig short of a double-double, leading the team with 12 kills and getting nine digs.
The Panthers (0-13, 0-1 CAA) came out firing and energized in the first set. Led by Schaab, who totaled six kills and a .545 hitting percentage in the set, State would take the lead early, but neither team would manage to pull away. In total there would be six lead changes and 10 ties in the first set alone. Delaware would start to pull away late and take a 23-20 lead, however, State would not be denied and after a kill by senior Michelle Trimble to cap a 4-0 run, the Panthers would take a 24-23 lead. The two teams would exchange side-outs, before a service error by Delaware's CAA Preseason Player-of-the-Year Stephanie Barry and a kill by Schaab would give the Panthers the first set, 27-25.
The second set would be much of the same as the two teams would be tied seven times. A kill by Jones would give the Panthers an early 2-0 lead. State would build a lead of three points on several occasions, but the Blue Hens continued to manage to tie the score. Delaware would then use a 12-3 run to take a commanding 20-14 lead, but State would fire right back with an 8-2 run of their own, tying the match at 22. State would earn a set point at 24-23, but just has the Panthers had in the first set, Delaware would finish with a 3-0 run to take the second, 26-24.
State would build themselves in a hole quickly in the third, as after exchanging points early, Delaware would use a 14-4 run to take a commanding 19-8 lead. The Panthers would never find their rhythm, nor cut the deficit, as the Blue Hens took the set 25-13.
The fourth set would be another nail-biter. On an attack error by Meghan Bonk, the Panthers would take an early 4-1 lead. State would never relinquish that lead, though Delaware would tie the match on three occasions. The last occasion would come at 22-22 on a service ace by Delaware's Greta Gibboney. Webster would call a time out to settle his squad and it would work, as freshman Torrie Brown would score a kill on the next point. Jones would then serve out the set with an ace, as the Panthers took the fourth set, 25-23.
State would dig themselves a hole quickly in the fifth and final set. The Blue Hens would start the set on a 7-1 run with State's only point coming on a kill by junior Jocelyn Waldern. The Panthers would not go quietly and with a 5-1 run of their own, cutting the deficit to 8-6. Unfortunately, that would be as close as they would get, as Delaware would finish off the set, winning the tiebreaker 15-10.
“We passed better than we have been, we blocked better than we have been, we got side-outs when we needed them,” stated Webster. “When you do that, you are going to give yourself chances to win a lot of sets.”
Redshirt sophomore Audrey Cantrell finished the match with a team-high 25 digs, while Brown added 11 kills.
Paige Erickson led the Blue Hens with 15 kills, while Kim Stewart added a double-double of 14 kills and 11 digs. Jess Chason also added a double-double for Delaware with 46 assists and 12 digs.
The Panthers will be back in action on Sunday when they take on Towson at 2:00 p.m. Admission to the Sports Arena is free.
