Despite Ashley Jones' second consecutive triple-double, the Georgia State volleyball team dropped a tough three-set match to the host Flames in the opening match of the University of Illinois-Chicago Invitational on Friday night.
Georgia State's four-match winning streak came to an end with the loss. The Panthers fell to 6-2 on the season, while Illinois-Chicago improved to 3-6.
The two teams battled early, before the Flames took the first set, 29-27. The second set was equally as close, before UIC pulled away for a 25-22 win. State would not keep things as close in the third and final set as the Flames took the final set, 25-16.
Jones, the reigning CAA co-offensive player of the week, scored an NCAA regular season tying six triple doubles during the 2008 season. The junior led the team on Friday night with 10 kills and 12 assists, while also adding 10 digs. Jones recorded her second triple-double of the season while hitting .200.
Junior Rachel Boryc, a native of nearby Naperville, Ill., scored nine kills and four assists in the loss. It marked the first time that Boryc had played collegiately in her home state.
Redshirt-junior Audrey Cantrell scored 16 digs and is now just 19 shy of the all-time top ten list in school history. Cantrell came into the match second in the CAA with 4.25 digs per set.
Freshman Jamiee Freeman added three kills and a eight digs.
The Panthers hit a season-low .099, while the Flames hit .263 for the victory.
The Flames were led by Casie Sullivan's 15 kills, while Kelsey Safranek scored 12. Five members of the Flames scored at least seven kills, as Jessica Dalke scored a match-high 46 assists.
The Panthers will return to action on Saturday at noon when they face 18th ranked and undefeated Michigan State (7-0.) at noon. State will conclude play in the tournament facing Duquesne (7-2) at 5 p.m. Before returning to Atlanta, Georgia State will face Chicago State (0-6) on Sunday at noon.
Live stats of all of the Illinois-Chicago Invitational can be viewed at GeorgiaStateSports.com this weekend.
The Panthers will conclude tournament play next weekend at the Elon Invitational. State will take on the host Phoenix, Norfolk State and Navy.
