ATLANTA - After a strong pre-season, and an impressive exhibition win at Chattanooga, the Georgia State volleyball team will take the court this weekend when they host California Baptist, Chattanooga and Memphis in the GSU Invitational.
Georgia State will open the annual tournament on Friday (Aug. 27) when it hosts Chattanooga at 10 a.m. at GSU Sports Arena. Shortly after, Memphis will play consecutive matches against California Baptist and Chattanooga at noon and 4:30 p.m., before the Panthers face California Baptist at 7:00 p.m. to end the action on Friday.
Play will resume Saturday morning when California Baptist and Chattanooga square off at 11:00 a.m. Soon after, Georgia State will face Memphis at 2:00 p.m. to wrap up the invitational.
LAST TIME OUT
- Georgia State opened the 2021 campaign with an exhibition win at Chattanooga last Friday. The teams played three sets before taking an intermission and playing an additional two sets. Georgia State won each set for the 5-0 sweep. In the first three sets, seniors Leah Wilcox and Meisheia Griffin put together excellent performances. Wilcox accumulated 10 kills and seven digs with a .381 hitting percentage through the first three sets, while Griffin notched seven kills with a match-high .636 hitting percentage.
- Head coach Sally Polhamus returns 11 players from a year ago, while welcoming nine newcomers.
- Georgia State went 9-11 last season, including a 7-9 mark in conference play. The Panthers won seven of their last nine matches, which included a four-match winning streak before falling in the Sun Belt Tournament.
THE MATCHUPS
- Georgia State will face Chattanooga for the second time in the past week as the Panthers traveled to Chattanooga last Friday for an exhibition against the Mocs. Last season, the Panthers fell to Chattanooga in the regular season opener, 2-3. Georgia State and Chattanooga have met 13 times all-time with GSU owning a 7-6 record.
- Georgia State will face California Baptist for only the second time in program history. The Panthers fell to CBU 1-3 in the Starkville Classic back in 2018.
- Georgia State has faced Memphis twice in program history with the victory coming in 2002 and the loss coming in 2011.
SCOUTING THE MOCS
- Chattanooga finished the 2020-21 campaign with a 6-12 record overall including a 4-12 mark in the Southern Conference. The Mocs return nine players from a year ago while welcoming eight newcomers to the program. Chattanooga was picked to finish eighth in the 2021 SoCon preseason coaches poll.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
- Memphis finished 5-7 (2-6 AAC) last season. The Tigers return nearly everyone from last year's squad including their top three kills leaders. Memphis was picked to finish last in the American Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll.
SCOUTING THE LANCERS
- California Baptist finished the 2020 season with an 8-8 (4-8 WAC) record. This year, CBU's roster is composed of 13 returners and five newcomers. The Lancers were picked to finish fourth in WAC preseason poll for the third-straight season.
NEXT UP
After Georgia State hosts Chattanooga, California Baptist and Memphis for the GSU Invitational (Aug. 27-28), the Panthers will hit the road for the UNF Invitational next weekend (Sept. 3-4) where they will face North Florida, Virginia Tech and Davidson.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, Aug. 27:
*Georgia State vs. Chattanooga (10 a.m.)
Memphis vs. California Baptist (Noon)
Chattanooga vs. Memphis (4:30 p.m.)
*Georgia State vs. California Baptist (7 p.m.)
Saturday, Aug. 28:
California Baptist vs. Chattanooga (11 a.m.)
*Georgia State vs. Memphis (2 p.m.)
*Indicates GSU matches
For news and notes, follow Georgia State volleyball on Instagram and Twitter (@GeorgiaStateVB).
