ATLANTA -- Georgia State, the reigning back-to-back Sun Belt Champions, is poised for an excellent 2025 campaign. The Sandy Panthers are the preseason favorite to win the 2025 Sun Belt title in voting done by the league head coaches. Head coach Beth Van Fleet's squad is also ranked 13th in the 2025 AVCA Collegiate Beach Volleyball Preseason Poll. 

Last spring, Georgia State won its third straight conference title, clinching their third consecutive trip to the NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship. The Sandy Panthers finished with a No. 14 final ranking and a 26-13 record, reaching the 20-win milestone for the eighth straight full season.

Georgia State opens the 2025 season Feb. 21-22 with matches against No. 17 Florida International, No. 14 Washington, No. 16 FAU, and host Tampa at the Tampa Invitational.

GSU returns Aree Keller, who was named the 2024 Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year. Savannah Ebarb, Destiny White, and Keller all return after earning All-Conference First Team Honors in 2024. Georgia State also welcomes five freshmen to the sand: Kate Phelan, Kealy Dirner, Noalani Nuez, Ella Mozeleski, and Danica Singleton.

Van Fleet enters her 12th season at the helm as one of the winningest coaches in the nation with 234 victories. She has guided the Panthers to 11 straight winning seasons and five appearances in the national championship tournament.

2025 Sun Belt Beach Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Georgia State (6) – 48
2. Coastal Carolina – 40
3. UNCW – 33
4. Mercer – 24
5. College of Charleston – 22
6. Southern Miss (1) – 20
7. ULM – 9
(Parenthesis) indicate first-place votes.