Kennesaw, Ga.- Muki Kangwa and Jamiee Freeman each posted double-doubles to help the Georgia State volleyball team (6-11) overcome a 13-7 fifth-set deficit and a school-record 1,222 fans at the KSU Convocation Center to defeat Kennesaw State (19-25, 25-16, 24-26, 25-23, 15-13) in a thrilling affair Tuesday night.
Georgia State took the final eight points of the match, rallying to win a fifth set they trailed by as many as seven points.
"Andrea Noe was huge serving in game five and provided a great sense of calm on the floor," head coach Tami Audia said of the freshman who returned Tuesday from a 12-match absence due to injury. "This win showed that we are getting tougher and understanding what it takes to earn a victory. KSU played hard and had a really great atmosphere."
Kennesaw native Kaylee McGrew had 41 assists to lead the Panthers while Vineece Verdun had a team-high 18 kills. Kangwa added 17 kills and tied a career high with 18 digs on the night. Freeman had 13 kills and 15 digs while Andrea Ezell posted a career-best seven blocks.
It was GSU's final non-conference outing of the season and the Panthers' fifth win in as many all-time meetings with the Owls (5-10). GSU improved to 2-2 this season in five-set matches.
"Muki and Jamiee did a great job handling and attacking the ball," Audia added. "Kaylee set a good match and is continuing to get stronger at the setter position."
The Panthers and Owls traded points in the first set to a 12-12 tie until GSU surrendered seven of the next eight points in falling behind 19-13. The Panthers tried to rally behind three kills apiece from Freeman and Kangwa, but fell in the opening set, 25-19.
In the second set, GSU worked quickly to even the match. The Panthers jumped out to a 9-2 lead in part to two solo blocks by Kangwa and an ace from Freeman, her team-leading 26th. GSU would stay in control as Kangwa laced a perfect kill down the line for a 15-4 Panther advantage. Verdun rejected Keyaira Stevenson to make it 20-10 then won the set later on her fifth kill to give GSU a 25-16 victory and level the match.
Georgia State took an early 7-5 lead in the third frame after Freeman dropped her seventh kill of the match. Later, Noe made her return to action and the Panthers immediately won a frantic back-and-forth point to claim a 12-9 lead. After KSU pushed back for a 21-19 lead, Verdun's kill found the back line to bring GSU within one. Facing two set points at 24-22, the Panthers rallied. Noe stuffed the Owl attack to save one set point, then Freeman put down a kill to tie the game, 24-24. The Panthers would lose the set, however, falling 26-24 as Freeman's attack went long.
Needing a comeback, the Panthers took a 10-3 lead in the fourth set. After KSU climbed back to tie things at 15, Verdun drilled her 14th kill to keep the Panthers briefly ahead. Later, the senior broke an 18-18 tie with her first ace of the match. KSU would not go away, and the teams traded points down the stretch until tied, 23-23. The Panthers then forced the Owls into two attack errors to claim a 25-23 win and force a fifth set.
The Panthers fell behind 8-1 in the opening minutes of the deciding first-to-15 game, looking all but defeated. With GSU trailing 8-4, Ezell stuffed Emily Bean for her career-high seventh block to help give the Panthers life. The Owls responded to take a 13-7 lead, but GSU was just getting started. After four kills, an ace from Noe and an Owls error, the Panthers leveled things at 13. One more Owls attack error gave GSU a match point at 14-13, then Verdun sealed the win with her 18th put away, a lob over the leaping Owls defense that fell to the floor.
The win was GSU's first of the season on an opponents' home court.
"This is a great way to go on to the conference potion of the season," Audia said. "We're tough and we'll work to fine-tune some things."
The Panthers begin Colonial Athletic Association play Saturday by taking on UNC Wilmington at the GSU Sports Arena at 2 p.m.
