AUDIO
Head Coach Tami Audia
Junior Chelsea Perry
ATLANTA -- Trailing two sets to none and down to its final point, the Georgia State volleyball team rallied to defeat Wright State, 3-2 (22-25, 19-25, 26-24, 25-19, 15-10), to claim the 2010 Georgia State Invitational.
"We were down 2-0 with our backs against the wall and they had to go out their and leave it all on the court," said head coach Tami Audia. "We talked about before the season going undefeated at home and showing teams whose gym this was, and tonight we answered their punches with one of two of our own. We just had to take it point by point and we fought back hard."
Facing elimination and trailing 24-22 in the third set, the Panthers quickly tied the score on two errors by the Raiders. With Chelsea Perry serving, a kill by Ashley Jones and an attack error by Jessica Woods gave GSU the set, 26-24.
The Panthers quickly dispatched the Raiders in set four, 25-19, to set up the deciding fifth set.
The fifth set proved to be as thrilling as the rest of the sets, with GSU taking an 8-6 lead into the side change. The Raiders immediately tied the score at eight and then took the lead behind the serving of Jessica Woods. Four-straight points gave WSU a 10-8 lead. A key block assist by Boryc and Verdun gave the Panthers the serve. The Panthers promptly tied the score at 10 and didn't look back as they scored the set's final seven points. Strong serving by Averbeck keyed the final points, while kills by Verdun and Perry claimed the title for GSU. Verdun had four kills during the 7-0 GSU run to end the match.
For the second time in as many days, Perry produced 51 assists, which ties her career high. She also chipped in 11 digs and five kills to record her third-straight double-double to open the season. Verdun, who was named the tournament's MVP, recorded 19 kills, while Jones had 16 kills and six digs. Sophomore Jamiee Freeman had 12 digs and six kills. Libero Audrey Cantrell paced the Panthers with 18 digs, while Averbeck came through big for GSU with five service aces and 10 digs. Perry and Jones also earned all-tournament team accolades.
After going back and forth for much of the first set, Wright State went on a late run to take a six-point lead at 22-16. However, the Panthers battled back scoring five-straight points on the strength of freshman Emily Averbeck's serving, to trim the lead to 22-21. An Averbeck serve into the net gave the Raiders a 23-21 lead. From there the two team's traded points and a Perry hitting error gave Wright State the 25-22 set win.
The Panthers came out in set two and took the lead early pushing their lead to five at 10-5. The Raiders battle back to tie the match at 15 and took their first lead at 17-16, eventually pushing it to 23-17, before closing it out 25-19.
The Panthers (3-0) return to action next weekend as they travel to Fullerton, Calif., to compete in the Titan Classic. GSU will face off against Colorado on Friday, before meeting host Cal-State Fullerton and Montana on Saturday.
All-Tournament Team
Paige Pridgeon, North Florida
Holly Evans, Morehead State
Liz Schuler, Morehead State
Shaundra Sandifer, Wright State
Ashley Jones, Georgia State
Chelsea Perry, Georgia State
Vineece Verdun, Georgia State (MVP)
Morehead State vs. North Florida - 5 p.m.
MSU 3, UNF 0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-17)
Holly Evans and Emma Keough each had 11 kills as Morehead State swept North Florida in the GSU Invitational finale for both teams.
