LAFAYETTE, La. - The Georgia State volleyball team dropped a heartbreaker Friday night in Louisiana, losing 3-2 to Louisiana-Lafayette. It was the third 3-2 loss of conference play for the Panthers.

The Ragin Cajuns (14-8, 4-4 Sun Belt) squeaked by in the first set 30-28, but the Panthers (5-17, 0-8) prevailed in the next two sets 25-22, 25-23. Louisiana came back to win the fourth set 25-15, which sent the match into a fifth set. The teams traded points back and forth to the start the fifth set, and as it neared the end, the two were tied at 9-9. However, the Ragin Cajuns ultimately proved to be too much and won six of the next eight points and took the fifth set 15-11. 

Sophomore Dede Bohannon led all scorers with 17 kills with only five errors. Sophomore Sydney Hunsley was the second highest scorer for the Panthers with 11 kills and one service ace. She also had 15 digs, second only to libero Emily Averbeck who had 29. Hunsley also had 2.5 of Georgia State's 11 blocks.

Sophomore Eliza Zachary had nine kills and five total blocks. She had two solo blocks and six block assists. She also had two service aces, alongside freshman Molly Shonk who also had two.

Freshman Kristina Stinson contribued seven kills, three digs, and four block assists, a career high for her. 

Overall, the Panthers had eight service aces and 11 total team blocks.

"We played the best volleyball we've played in a while tonight," head coach Tami Audia said. "It shows that we are working hard and the focus, commitment, determination and passion are there. We just need a couple points to fall differently. Our back row stepped up tonight in some big situations. We have been working offensively in practice and it showed up tonight in spots. Now we have to become more proficient every day."

Georgia State will have another chance to grab its first Sun Belt win Sunday when it hosts Louisiana-Monroe at 1 p.m. in the Sports Arena.