The Georgia State volleyball team came out strong on Saturday evening to take the first set against George Mason, but could not hold on, falling 3-1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-20) to the Patriots. Junior Ashley Jones and sophomore Chelsea Perry each scored double-doubles in the loss.
The loss dropped the Panthers to 16-10 and 3-7 in the CAA. George Mason improved to 19-7 and 8-3 in league play.
Jones, who scored her sixth triple-double of the season on Friday night against James Madison, finished the match with 21 kills and 11 digs, while adding five assists. Jones has scored six triple-doubles in each of the last two seasons.
Redshirt-junior Audrey Cantrell continued to put together one of the best defensive seasons in Georgia State history. Cantrell scored 18 digs to move just four digs shy of April DeCoste (2001-04) for fifth place on the all-time digs list. The Rockwall, Texas native also moved just four digs shy of fifth on the single season list and now has 446 this season, just 67 behind Kumi Ishiyama with four matches to play.
Perry's double-double consisted of a career-high 42 assists and 11 digs, while freshman Jamiee Freeman added 16 digs.
Senior Jocelyn Waldern scored seven kills and nine digs, while redshirt-sophomore Vineece Verdun added eight kills.
Sophomore Muki Kangwa scored seven kills and six digs, while adding three service aces. Kangwa was second in the CAA and among the top 20 in the NCAA in service aces per set entering the weekend.
George Mason was led by Holly Goode's 18 kills and 12 digs, while Fernanda Bartels added 58 assists.
Georgia State's six-match road trip will continue next Friday night at Hofstra in Hempstead, N.Y. It will conclude on Saturday night at Northeastern in Boston, Mass. Both matches are set for 7 p.m. starts. The Panthers will not return home until the final weekend of the season when they take on VCU on November 13th at 5:30 p.m.
