ATLANTA- The Georgia State volleyball team got 12 kills from Vineece Verdun but dropped its first Colonial Athletic Association match of the season on Sunday, falling to William & Mary in three sets (25-23, 25-21, 25-23) at the GSU Sports Arena.
The Panthers fell to 8-12 on the year, 2-1 in CAA play, while the Tribe improved to 6-9 and 1-3 in league action. The loss snapped GSU's three-match winning streak and is just the second home loss over the last two seasons for the Panthers in CAA play.
Senior Chelsea Perry had a season-high 35 assists, while Muki Kangwa added nine kills and 12 digs. Jamiee Freeman had a team-high 18 digs and Mirjam Pfyl chipped in 15.
The Panthers came out swinging in the first set, building an 11-6 lead on an ace from Kangwa. The Tribe rallied to even things at 17, then the teams battled to a 23-23 tie. William & Mary's Paulette Grand Pre, who had a match-high 18 kills, gave the Tribe a one-point edge with a spike. A service ace then won the first set for the Tribe, 25-23.
In the second frame, William & Mary led most of the way and built a 23-16 lead on a kill from Julia Swalchick. The Panthers scored four of the next five to cut the deficit to 24-20, but could not complete the comeback, falling 25-21 as the Tribe took a two-set lead.
Georgia State maintained a lead through much of the third set, going up 14-8 on a kill from Verdun. Later, Andrea Book gave the Panthers a 19-14 advantage on a spike, but the Tribe would begin to battle back. William & Mary scored nine of the next 12 to tie things at 23, then a kill from Grand Pre gave the Tribe a match point. A GSU attack error sealed the match for the Tribe with a 25-23 third set.
Freeman, who leads the CAA in service aces, smacked two more Sunday to run her season total to 33, a new personal season best. The Panthers led all league schools in aces entering play Sunday.
Georgia State is next in action on Friday, beginning a five-match road trip at Hofstra (10-8, 1-1 CAA). The Panthers will not play another home match until Oct. 28 against George Mason.
