Volleyball Falls to Arkansas in Three

Volleyball Mike Holmes/Sports Communications

Volleyball Falls to Arkansas in Three

The Georgia State volleyball team attacked early and often, but it wasn't enough as the Panthers fell to Arkansas (1-5) in three sets. Georgia State (0-6) was led by sophomore Ashley Jones and senior Liz Schaab who each accounted for nine kills against the Razorbacks.

The Panthers would come out strong in the first set and take a 3-0 lead on an error by Arkansas' Yun Tang. After the Razorbacks came back to take a 4-3 lead, Georgia State would go on a 6-1 run capped by a Jocelyn Waldren kill to take a 9-5 lead. Arkansas would battle back to tie the set at 12 on a kill by Tang. The teams would exchange several side-outs as in total there were nine ties in the set and five lead changes. The Panthers would take a 20-18 lead on a kill by Jessica Tjaden, but from that point forward, Arkansas would use a 7-2 run to take the first set, 25-22.

Georgia State would come out slow in the second set, but quickly rebound. After falling behind 4-1, the Panthers would cut the deficit to one (7-6) on a kill by Schaab. Two time-outs by Head Coach Mike Webster could not stop an 8-0 run by Arkansas, who would take a commanding 15-6 lead midway through the set. However, Georgia State would not go quietly, using an 8-1 run of their own, capped by a block assist from Jones and senior Michelle Trimble to cut the deficit to two, at 16-14. The run would continue as State tied the match at 21 and on a kill by Schaab, the Panthers would have their first set-point of the match at 24-23. However, a pair of kills by Arkansas and an attack error by State would prove costly, as the Razorbacks took the second set, 26-24.

The third set would prove similar, though once again, Georgia State would not go down without a fight. After taking a 4-3 lead early off a kill by Schaab, Arkansas would use a 5-0 run to go up 8-4. State would come back to tie it a nine, but that would be the last tie of the set, as Arkansas took the third and final set, 25-21.

Arkansas was led by Kelli Stipanovich's 10 kills, while Heather Royal added nine and Destiny Clark scored eight. Caira Dortch led the team with 33 assists.

Trimble finished the match with six kills for the Panthers, while Tjaden scored 26 assists. Redshirt sophomore Audrey Cantrell had a team and season high 14 digs.

Georgia State will return to the court on Friday when the Panthers face Coastal Carolina in the first match of the Coastal Carolina Invitational at 6:00 p.m.
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