ATLANTA -- Behind 16 kills apiece from Ashley Jones and Vineece Verdun, the Georgia State volleyball team rallied from a 2-0 deficit to knock off the CAA preseason favorite Delaware Blue Hens, 3-2 (16-25, 18-25, 25-20, 25-21, 15-12), at the Sports Arena on Friday evening.
In the deciding fifth set, the Panthers took the 8-7 lead at the side change behind three A. Jones kills. The teams traded points and with the score knotted at nine, the Panthers took over, scoring the next four points to take a 13-9 lead behind a pair of Delaware miscues. The Blue Hens battled back to cut the lead to 13-12, but an error gave GSU match point. With the match on the line, the Jones combo of Raquel and Ashley went up for a block that sealed the comeback win for GSU.
The Panthers (8-8, 2-0 CAA) open 2-0 in the CAA for the first time ever and sit atop the league standings through two matches. The Blue Hens fall to 12-5 (1-1 CAA). GSU returns to action on Sunday when it hosts Towson in a 1 p.m. match.
State is now 3-3 in five-set matches this season, including winning both matches where it trailed 2-0. The Panthers also rallied at home against Wright State earlier in the season when facing an early 2-0 hole. GSU also improved their home record to 5-1.
"I am so proud of the team for fighting back against a really good Delaware squad," said head coach Tami Audia. "Delaware was really skilled at every position, and looked strong in the first two sets. Our team did a great job of refocusing and winning the final three sets."
Verdun led the way for the Panthers as she tallied 16 kills, two assists, two service aces, two digs and four blocks in proving to be a thorn in the Blue Hens' side all night. A. Jones recorded another double-double with 19 digs, 16 kills and four blocks, while Freeman had a team-high 21 digs and eight kills to go along with two service aces. Chelsea Perry had 47 assists and nine digs, while Audrey Cantrell and Emily Averbeck had 19 and 16 digs, respectively. The Panthers dominated the Blue Hens on the frontline, outblocking them 14-6.5.
The match featured 22 tie scores and 10 lead changes as the third through fifth sets proved to be hotly contested.
In a losing effort, Kim Stewart, Katie Dennehy and Alissa Alker all had double-doubles in kills and digs for the Blue Hens.
With the score tied at six in the first set, the Blue Hens ran off four straight points to take a 10-6 advantage. From there Delaware led the remainder of the set, going on a 12-6 run to end the set after GSU had cut the lead to 13-10. GSU was held to a .140 team attack percentage and a 41% sideout percentage in the 25-16 loss.
The second set was more of the same from the Blue Hens, as they took a 2-0 lead heading into the break with a 25-18 victory. The Panthers started out strong taking an 8-5 lead on a Verdun service ace, but Delaware quickly went on a 6-0 run to take the 11-8 lead. The Blue Hens pushed their lead all the way to 19-12, before GSU fought back behind the strong serving of Averbeck. Averbeck, who has shown a knack for providing clutch serves this year as a freshman, helped force the Blue Hens into two errors and the Panthers frontline offered four kills, to cut the lead to 19-18. However, Delaware regained the serve on an error by A. Jones, and went to score the sets final six points.
The third set was a wild back and forth affair that saw both teams take a lead of at least four points. GSU, trailing 16-12, quickly tied the score at 16 behind three Delaware attack errors, before taking an 18-16 lead on an A. Jones kill. GSU built a 22-19 lead and extended it to set point at 24-19 on a Freeman kill and R. Jones and Kangwa block. After the Blue Hens scored a point, R. Jones won the set for the Panthers with a kill.
The Panthers looked to force a deciding fifth set and did just that taking set four, 25-21. The set was close throughout as evidenced by the eight tie scores. With the score knotted at 18, GSU took seven of the final 10 points. A block by R. Jones sealed the set for the Panthers.
