ATLANTA – The GSU volleyball team fought hard but fell to cross-town rival Georgia Tech 3-0 Sunday afternoon in the finale of the Georgia Tech Courtyard Classic.

With the loss, GSU fell to 2-10 while Tech improved to 9-2.

Sydney Hunsley posted eight kills to lead the Panthers offensively while Jamiee Freeman was second in scoring with five. Natalia Nieto posted 11 assists to lead the panthers and Emily Averbeck earned 13 digs in the contest.

Freeman and Nieto each posted eight digs of their own. In all, only three Panthers who participated in the match did not earn at least one dig.

Bailey Hunter led GT with a match-high 15 kills while Monique Mead posted 11. Kaleigh Colson was tops in assists for the Yellow Jackets with a match-best 33.

GSU fought hard in the match and forced 13 tie scores and seven total lead changes against Tech's high-powered attack.

Tech jumped out early and never looked back in the first set. The Yellow Jackets rode four kills from Mead and Felinski to take the first set 25-14. Hunsley led the way for the Panthers in the first set with three kills while Freeman and Bohanon added two each.

The Yellow Jackets took the second set 25-15 despite a heroic effort by the Panthers. The second game saw six ties and three lead changes as opposed to 1 tie and no lead changes in the first set. Andrea Ezell led the way for the Panthers with two kills and a block in the set. One of Ezell's kills gave GSU a 3-2 lead early in the second frame. She struck again with her second kill to put GSU on top 5-4.

GSU fought hard in set three but in the end, the Yellow Jackets were able to take the set 25-18.

The Panthers will be back in action Friday September 21 as they travel to face George Mason at 7 p.m. in their conference opener. GSU remains on the road to face James Madison September 22.

Georgia State opens the home portion of the CAA schedule on October 13 against UNC Wilmington.