ATLANTA- Despite a career peformance by senior Muki Kangwa, the Georgia State volleyball (4-3) team suffered defeats at the hands of Harvard, 3-2 (25-22, 25-16, 22-25, 22-25, 15-13) and College of Charleston, 3-1 (25-20, 25-21, 29-31, 25-21) to end a highly-competitive GSU Invitational Saturday at the GSU Sports Arena.
Kangwa hammered a career-high 29 kills against the Crimson as the Panthers' rallied from two sets down but fell just short in Saturday's first match.
In the Invitational finale, the Panthers had little legs left but fought well into the evening against the Cougars, who finished round-robin action 3-0 and claimed the trophy.
Kangwa earned all-tournament honors by piling up 65 kills over three matches, in addition to 35 digs and five blocks.
Emily Averbeck amassed 74 digs over the two-day affair to lead GSU while Chelsea Perry and Emily Averbeck had 66 and 63 assists, respectively.
Match One: Harvard 3, GSU 2
The Panthers lost the first two sets before rallying behind Kangwa's 29-kill performance, 13 kills from sophomore and 32 assists from Perry.Loren Byerly
In the opening set, the Panthers started slowly and fell behind 18-10 to the Crimson. GSU mounted a comeback and Byerly's kill pulled the Panthers within one at 23-22, but the Crimson claimed the final two points of the set to win 25-22.
In the second set, GSU spotted Harvard another early lead and could never come within five points down the stretch despite four kills from Freeman, falling 25-16.
GSU took an early advantage in the third set as Kangwa's solo block highlighted a five-point run that put the Panthers ahead, 11-8. The teams traded rallies before GSU took over for a 25-22 win on a Kangwa smash.
In the fourth set, the two squads once again went back and forth once more, GSU clinging to a two-point advantage down the stretch. Up 23-21, Kangwa's serve slipped over the net for an ace, then Andrea Ezell ended the set two points later on a kill for a 25-22 win.
In the final set, Andrea Book electrified the arena with a solo block that brought GSU within one at 6-5. Down three match points at 14-11, the Panthers saved two before falling 15-13 in the deciding set.
Match Two: CofC 3, GSU
The Panthers dropped the first set, 25-20, despite four kills apiece from Kangwa and Freeman in the opening frame.
In the second, GSU found itself in another hole at 17-12 and could not come closer than five points down the stretch in a 25-21 defeat.
Georgia State fought to the end, battling the Cougars to a 25-25 tie in the third set and forcing extra points. The teams traded points until GSU rallied for three straight to claim a 31-29 thrilling fourth-set victory.
In the final frame, the Panthers once again held tough and had four kills from Freeman but could not avoid a 25-21 defeat to clinch the match for the Cougars.
All-GSU Invitational Team:
Elyse Cubb, College of Charleston (MVP)
Sarah Havel, College of Charleston
Madelyn McGinnis, College of Charleston
Christine Wu, Harvard
Taylor Docter, Harvard
Muki Kangwa, Georgia State
Stephanie Koontz, Jacksonville State
GSU returns to action this Tuesday, hosting Troy at the GSU Sports Arena at 7 p.m.
