FAIRFAX, Va. – The Georgia State volleyball team came up
short in the CAA opener with a 3-0 loss at George Mason Friday night.
With the loss, GSU fell to 2-11and 0-1 in the CAA while GMU
improved to 3-11 and 1-0 in the conference.
The Panthers were led by senior Jamiee Freeman and freshmen
Dede Bohanon and Sydney Hunsley with eight kills on the night. Freeman also
added 13 digs two service aces against GMU.
Freshman Natalia Nieto led GSU with 16 assists, which was
just two more than fellow freshman setter Andrea' DeLeon's 14. Emily Averbeck
earned 19 digs to lead the Panthers.
A kill by DeLeon in the first set gave the Panthers a 14-9
lead and capped a 4-2 run by the Panthers. The Patriots responded with a 6-0 run
of their own to take a 15-14 lead. The two teams traded points for rest of the
first frame but an offensive miscue by GSU gave the first set to the Patriots
25-23.
GMU took the second set 25-20 by fighting off a late surge
by GSU that included a kill by Hunsley and Freeman late in the set.
The final set proved to be a battle with the Patriots
finally emerging as the victor 28-26. Two GMU attack errors followed by a
service ace by Freeman gave the Panthers an 8-2 lead in the early going in the
third set. The Patriots answered with a 4-2 run of their own to cut the GSU
lead to 9-6. Two straight errors by the Patriots put the Panthers in a
set-winning situation, 24-23, but it was not to be as GMU held on for the win.
The Panthers continue conference play Saturday as they
travel to James Madison for a 7 p.m. tilt.
