HARRISONBURG, VA -- The Georgia State volleyball team (10-5, SBC 1-3) battled the James Madison Dukes (10-6, SBC 3-1) to the wire, but came up short in a thrilling five-set showdown Saturday at the JMU Convocation Center.

Courtney Smith powered the Panthers' offense with 13 kills, while Alessia Cappai tallied 12 and Maria Cecilia de Pinho added 10. Defensively, Marta Lazzarin was a force on the back line with 24 digs, while the front line made its presence known with seven blocks from de Pinho and six from Rayne Williams.

How It Happened

Set 1 | The Panthers jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, cruising to a 25-15 opening-set victory. Georgia State built a 10-point advantage at 24-14 and finished strong, racking up 17 kills in the set.

Set 2 | The second set was a nail-biter, with the Panthers falling 28-26. The set featured five ties and two lead changes, ultimately evening the match at one set apiece.

Set 3 | Georgia State struggled to find momentum in the third set, dropping it 25-21. The Panthers fell behind on the first point and were unable to reclaim the lead, giving James Madison a 2-1 edge in the match.

Set 4 | The Panthers bounced back with a 27-25 win in the fourth set to force a decisive fifth. Georgia State's front-row defense dominated, totaling eight blocks, and the team rallied from an early 8-2 deficit to capture the set.

Set 5 | The fifth set was a heartbreaker, with the Panthers falling 16-14 despite a strong serving performance that included three aces.

Game Notes

• Georgia State featured three players with double-digit kills.
• Alessia Cappai led the team with three aces in the match.
• The Panthers never trailed in a dominant 25-15 first-set victory.
• Georgia State's blocking shined in the fourth set, shutting down eight JMU attacks.
• Courtney Smith paced the offense with a team-high 13 kills.
• Marta Lazzarin anchored the backcourt with a match-high 24 digs.
• Emily Harden facilitated the offense with a team-high 24 assists, fueling the Panthers' attack.

Up Next
The Panthers return home to take on the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers for their third Sun Belt matchup of the season. The two-match series kicks off Thursday, Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. and concludes Friday, Oct. 10 at 6 p.m.