Location: Boone, N.C.
Match 1 vs. App State: Friday, Oct. 31 @ 6 p.m. ET.
Match 2 vs. App State: Saturday, Nov. 1 @ 2 p.m. ET.
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ATLANTA – The Georgia State volleyball team (12-9, SBC 3-7) travels to Boone, N.C., for a two-match Halloween weekend clash with the Appalachian State Mountaineers (13-8, SBC 4-6). The Panthers aim to turn the tide in the series starting Friday, Oct. 31, at 6 p.m., before wrapping up the weekend on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 2 p.m. inside Holmes Convocation Center.
SERIES HISTORY
Georgia State and App State first met on September 14, 2007, in Clemson, South Carolina, where the Panthers opened the series with a commanding 3–0 sweep. In 25 all-time meetings, the Mountaineers hold a 17–8 advantage over Georgia State. The Panthers' longest winning streak came between 2016 and 2017, when they claimed three straight victories, while the Mountaineers answered with a six-match run from 2017 to 2020.Georgia State's most recent win came on October 6, 2023, in a five-set battle in Boone, but Appalachian State has since taken the last four contests, including a 3–2 victory in the 2024 Sun Belt Championship Tournament in Foley, Alabama.
ACROSS THE NET
App State heads into the weekend with a 13–8 overall record and a 4–6 mark in Sun Belt play. After opening the 2025 campaign with an impressive start, the Mountaineers will look to rebound from a recent four-match slide. Their non-conference slate featured quality wins over Duke and Virginia, along with competitive outings against nationally ranked North Carolina and Big Ten contender Michigan State that stretched to four and five sets, respectively.
Statistically, the Mountaineers stand out, ranking second in the league in several key categories, including total kills (1,124), service aces (134), total attacks (3,046), and team assists (1,019). Maya Winterhoff has anchored the Mountaineer front line, leading the Sun Belt and ranking 35th nationally in hitting percentage (.392), while also standing third in the conference and 17th in the nation with 108 total blocks. Setter Addison Heidemann sits second in the league in total assists (688) and fifth in assists per set (7.73), and libero MeMe Davis anchors the back row with 3.91 digs per set, eighth-best in the conference.
SHE'S JUST A FRESHMAN
The week of September 14, libero Marta Lazzarin was recognized among the Sun Belt's top three players appearing in the NCAA statistical rankings. Lazzarin has been a steady force on the back row, ranking third in the NCAA and first in the Sun Belt with 5.68 digs per set. She also sits second in the conference and 30th nationally in total digs with 159. Lazzarin's strong play also earned her national attention, as she was highlighted by Avid Volley as one of NCAA DI Week Three's "Top of the Week" players. After Week Four, Lazzarin continued her climb up the NCAA ranks, ranking second in digs per set with 5.74 and 15th in total digs with 224.
TOP 25
Georgia State has earned recognition among the nation's best with standout performances both individually and as a team. The Panthers sit 18th in the NCAA in an opponent hitting percentage, holding opponents to just .164. Individually, libero Marta Lazzarin has been a standout, ranking 11th nationally and first in the Sun Belt in digs per set (5.05), while placing 37th in the NCAA in total digs (379).
SO INTERNATIONAL
Georgia State's volleyball roster boasts with international flair. Nearly half of the 2025 squad hails from overseas, with eight of the 17 players bringing valuable international experience to the court.
THE SIQUEIRA ERA
Entering her second season at the helm, Head Coach Flavia Siqueira has quickly elevated the Georgia State volleyball program to new heights. During Siqueira's first campaign in 2024, the Panthers capped the season with 17 wins, the most in over a decade, and advanced to the second round of the Sun Belt Tournament for the first time since 2021. With Flavia at the forefront, the Panthers enter 2025 on the rise.
SEEING DOUBLE
Georgia State's 2025 season has seen standout two-way performances, with four Panthers recording multiple double-doubles to anchor the team's early success. Nazli Guvener leads the way with three double-doubles, highlighted by a season-high 18 kills and 12 digs against Furman (8/30). Myllena Torquetti has tallied two double-doubles, including 10 kills and 10 digs in the same matchup. Setter Shanelle Martinez has now recorded four double-doubles, dishing out a season-best 28 assists while adding 14 digs against Queens (9/5), followed by strong outings versus Old Dominion, 27 assists and 11 digs on Oct. 17, and 26 assists and 12 digs on Oct. 18. Alessia Cappai has also made her mark, notching 11 kills and 10 digs against Sam Houston (9/19).
SUN BELT DOMINANCE
Georgia State continues to make a statement in the Sun Belt, ranking second in opponent hitting percentage (.164). The Panthers also rank third in assists per set (12.28) and digs per set (15.51), fourth in team attacks per set (35.64), and fifth in total digs (1,210). Individually, Marta Lazzarin leads the conference with 379 digs and ranks first with 5.05 digs per set.
SMASHING START
Georgia State is off to its best start to a season since 2003, winning seven of its first eight matches. The Panthers have gone undefeated in two of their first three tournaments, dropping just one match along the way.
