Statesboro, Ga.- Despite a much improved Panther attack that scored less than 21 points in just one set all day, the Georgia State volleyball team (5-11) lost four-set matches to Ohio (28-26, 25-21,16-25, 27-25) and Georgia Southern (22-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-16) in Hanner Fieldhouse Saturday on the final day of the Bash in the Boro at Georgia Southern University.
The Panthers ended play in Statesboro 1-3 over three days, but placed Kaylee McGrew on the all-tournament team as the sophomore setter amassed 134 assists in four matches. She is the fourth different Panther to earn all-tournament honors during the season, joining Muki Kangwa (Memphis Invitational/GSU Invitational), Vineece Verdun (Memphis Invitational) and Jamiee Freeman (Cowgirl Classic).
Verdun had 50 kills to lead the Panther offense over four matches in Statesboro, while Kangwa (35 kills), Freeman (32) and Loren Byerly (30) combined for a balanced GSU attack.
Freeman and defensive specialist Emily Averbeck led GSU defensively with 49 digs apiece in the tournament, while Andrea Ezell's 13 block assists and three solo blocks were a team high.
"Today was much more indicative of how we want to play Georgia State volleyball each time we step on the court," said head coach Tami Audia after facing the Bobcats and Eagles, two NCAA Tournament representatives in 2010. "Our execution got better, but we still need our players to step up in big time situations for us to win matches."
Match One: Ohio 3, Georgia State 1
The four-set loss was GSU's first-ever matchup against the Bobcats, out of the Mid-American conference. The match featured 37 ties and 13 lead changes.
The Panthers and Bobcats played an exhilarating first set, neither team able to pull ahead by more than three early on. Verdun slammed home a kill to pull the Panthers within two at 16-14. Later, trailing, 23-17, the Panthers stormed back with the game in the balance. GSU rode a block from Ezell and kills from Kangwa to a 24-24 tie after saving one set-point. GSU earned their own set-point at 25-24, but the Bobcats responded with a kill. Ohio would pile up a .271 hitting percentage in the opening game, pulling away and edging GSU 28-26 in a thrilling first game. Freeman had four kills in the first frame to lead GSU.
The second set began just like the first, with both teams trading jabs and GSU inching ahead to a 13-9 lead on a block from Ezell and Freeman. The Bobcats responded, though, to score the next nine points for an 18-13 lead, from which GSU could not recover despite four kills from Verdun. The Bobcats took the second game, 25-21, for a two-set lead.
Putting aside their early misfortune, GSU started quickly in the third to take a 10-3 lead. The Panthers remained in control and later took a 16-7 lead on a service ace from Kangwa, her second of the match. GSU would coast to a 25-16 third-set victory by hitting .250 in the frame, led by Verdun's four kills and 10 assists from McGrew.
Georgia State was the first to ten points in the fourth, claiming a 10-8 lead on McGrew's dish to Verdun. Back and forth the teams went, until Freeman tied things at 22 with a kill down the line. The Panthers then fought off two match points, but could not make the deciding plays down the stretch, falling 27-25 in the fourth and final set.
Verdun finished with 15 kills, while McGrew's 41 assists were the most of any player on the court. Freeman and Byerly each pitched in a team-high 13 digs.
Match Two: Georgia Southern 3, Georgia State 1
The Panthers leapt out to a 9-3 lead in the opening minutes of the first set, continuing their strong play from earlier in the day. State would continue the pressure, earning a comfortable 16-7 advantage after Byerly's kill that forced a Southern timeout. After Southern rallied to cut the deficit to 24-22, Freeman drilled a kill off the Eagle defense to give State a 25-22 first-set victory. Verdun had six kills in the opening frame and McGrew dished out 12 assists to pace the Panthers.
In the second set, State fell behind by seven early but rallied to tie the score, 13-13. The Eagles would push ahead once again and take a 21-15 lead. The Panthers rallied behind a series of kills of Kangwa, but could not come closer than three down the stretch, losing 25-21.
Georgia State fell behind early on in the third set, but pushed back to make it 15-14. After Southern surged ahead once more, State came within 23-19 on a kill from Freeman down the line. The Panthers continued to stay within striking distance, but Southern posted a 25-21 win to take a two-games-to-one lead.
Once again, the Panthers fought from behind in the fourth set and trailed early, 15-10. Down 21-13, Ezell brought the Panthers within seven with a terrific block, but it would be too-little too-late for State. GSU finally surrendered a comfortable win for their opponent, a 25-16 fourth set that ended the match and gave the Eagles the win.
Verdun finished with 14 kills in the loss to lead GSU, while Byerly added 11 (two off her career-high 13). McGrew piled up 37 assists, a match-high.
As a team, the Panthers compiled nine aces, more than in any of the squad's previous seven matches.
Georgia State returns to action on Tuesday when it travels to Kennesaw State for a 7:30 p.m. match.
