Charleston, S.C. - The Georgia State sand volleyball team split its two matches on Saturday to open the first day of the College of Charleston Tournament. The Panthers defeated Mercer, 3-2, after falling to UAB, 2-3, earlier in the day. GSU now sits 4-2 in the inaugural season.
Despite the moderate rain conditions, the Panthers were able to complete both of their matches. To kick off the day, Georgia State took on UAB in their first-ever meeting in history. UAB began sand volleyball last season, while GSU is in its inaugural campaign. The Blazers defeated the Panthers 3-2.
Georgia State's No. 1 flight, Lane Carico and Katie Madewell, remained undefeated with their win vs. UAB. They won again in two sets. The Panthers' No. 2 flight, Jansen Button and Sara Olivova, also won in two sets. But, the Blazers were victorious in the 3, 4 and 5 sets to claim the win and improve to 6-3 overall on the season.
In a quick turnaround of less than an hour, the Panthers played Mercer for the second time in less than two weeks. Georgia State defeated the Bears by the same score they won when the teams first met, 3-2.
Carico and Madewell won in two sets, keeping them undefeated on the season at a perfect 6-0. Button and Olivova also won in their second match of the day in two sets.
The Panthers' No. 4 flight, Alexis Townsend and Molly Smestad, made their first official start, as they had only played in exhibitions before the tournament. The No. 5 flight, Kaitlynn Hufstetler and Nikki Senopoulos, also won in two sets. Georgia State's No. 3 duo, Milani Pickering and Katelyn Rawls, fell in three sets (14-16 in the third) to the Bears.
After today, Georgia State stands at 4-2. GSU's No. 1 team of Lane Carico and Katie Madewell have won their last five matches in straight 2-0 sets and have lost only one set all season (in the opener with Stetson).
The Panthers will take on No. 8 Charleston (1-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m.
GSU vs UAB
1. L. Carico/K. Madewell (GSU) def. K. Hirini/B. Thomas (UAB), 21-19, 21-14
2. J. Button/S. Olivova (GSU) def. A. Slaughter/K. Gallagher (UAB), 21-19, 23-21
3. A. Woods/S. Serley (UAB) def. K. Rawls/M. Pickering (GSU), 21-16, 21-16
4. R. Fairbanks/S. Rishell (UAB) def. A. Townsend/M. Smestad (GSU), 21-17, 21-17
5. B. Howard/S. Skinner (UAB) def. N. Senopoulos/K. Hufstetler (GSU), 24-22, 21-13
GSU vs Mercer
1. L. Carico/K. Madewell (GSU) def. J. Katona/M. Locke (MER), 21-12, 21-10
2. J. Button/S. Olivova (GSU) def. C. Schepp/Z. Becton (MER), 21-15, 21-15
3. M. Petsos/J. Duffy (MER) def. K. Rawls/M. Pickering (GSU), 14-21, 21-14, 16-14
4. C. Carlton/E. Rochefort (MER) def. A. Townsend/M. Smestad (GSU), 21-14, 21-14
5. N. Senopoulos/K. Hufstetler (GSU) def. L. Knapper/E. Brett (MER), 21-15, 21-17
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