BOONE, N.C. – In its first match of the Black and Gold Challenge, the Georgia State volleyball team lost 3-0 to host Appalachian State on Friday night. Juniors Deidra Bohannon and Eliza Zachary each contributed 10 kills, but it wasn't enough to stall a Mountaineer team that hit .288.
"We're getting better with every play. Our passing is getting closer to where it needs to be," head coach Sally Polhamus said. "We need to regroup and prepare for our two matches tomorrow."
NOTING THE PANTHERS…
- Juniors Deidra Bohannon and Eliza Zachary led the attack for the Panthers with 10 kills each. Zachary continued her hot streak and has 31 kills on .451 hitting in the last two matches.
- Natalia Nieto added 29 assists to lead the team with 205 on the year. She is currently seventh on Georgia State's all-time assists leaderboard.
- Junior Kitan Ajanaku had three blocks to go with her six kills on .286 hitting. Fellow junior Gabby Serafin led the Panthers in digs with 11.
- Appalachian State outhit the Panthers .288-.137. The Mountaineers are 9-0 on the year and received several top 25 votes in last week's poll.
- Georgia State's two opponents tomorrow duked it out earlier on Friday with Radford defeating Maryland 3-2.
Georgia State improved as the match went on, but it was too little too late for the Panthers. After a sluggish start, the Mountaineers claimed the first set 25-13. In the second set, Georgia State kept it close until the end when Appalachian State rallied after a timeout and shut the door, 25-21. The third set ping-ponged back and forth as the two sides traded blows. Polhamus' squad held a 22-21 lead, but couldn't hang on and dropped the set 25-23 to lose the match.
Georgia State plays Maryland (6-1) on Saturday at 10 a.m., and Radford (7-2) at 4 p.m., to wrap up the Black and Gold Challenge. Follow along on Twitter via @GeorgiaStateVB.
