ATLANTA – The Georgia State volleyball team (12-9, SBC 3-7) split the two-match home series with Marshall over the weekend at the GSU Sports Arena. The Panthers dropped Friday night's four-set contest before bouncing back on Saturday with a straight-set sweep over the Thundering Herd (12-11, SBC 4-6).
Match 1: Marshall 3, Georgia State 1
The Panthers' attack was paced by Akira Burt, who finished with 16 kills while hitting .257, and Maria Cecilia de Pinho, who added 14 kills at a .357 clip. Marta Lazzarin led the defensive effort with 16 digs, while Nazli Guvener added 13. At the net, Myllena Torquetti contributed six blocks, and Shanelle Martinez tallied 27 assists and 11 digs for a double-double.
SET 1 | Georgia State dropped the opening set 25-23 despite a strong offensive start. The Panthers hit .440 with 13 kills in the frame but couldn't overcome the late Marshall push.
SET 2 | Georgia State responded to pick up a 25-22 victory in set two, evening the match at one set apiece. The Panthers earned the set victory with the help of a solid performance on the attacking side. Georgia State registered a .319 attack percentage with 20 kills in the set win. The Panthers opened up a 16-10 lead in the stanza and coasted to victory from there.
SET 3 | Marshall regained control in set three, taking a 25-21 decision. The set featured eight ties before the Thundering Herd pulled away midway through to claim a 2–1 lead in the match.
SET 4 | The Panthers battled back from a 7-point deficit at 18-11, but ultimately fell short, 25-23, as Marshall closed out the match in four sets.
Game Notes
Match 2: Georgia State 3, Marshall 0
Alessia Cappai led the attack with nine kills and two aces while hitting .375. Marta Lazzarin once again anchored the defense with 11 digs, and Shanelle Martinez dished out 19 assists to guide the offense.
SET 1 | Georgia State took control early, hitting .357 with 13 kills to secure a 25-16 win. The Panthers closed the set on a strong run, stretching their lead to its largest margin at the finish.
SET 2 | The Panthers carried momentum into the second set, earning another 25-16 victory. Georgia State grabbed the lead for good at 10-9 and never trailed again, taking a commanding 2-0 match lead.
SET 3 | Georgia State completed the sweep with a 25-22 win. The Panthers went ahead for good at 19-18 and held off a late Marshall push to seal the match.
Game Notes
Up Next
The Panthers head to the mountains to visit App State for another Sun Belt face off. The two-match series will open on Friday, Oct. 31 at 6 p.m. and will close on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m.
