ATLANTA – The Georgia State Panthers (3-0, 0-0) capped an undefeated run through the GSU Invitational with a 3-1 victory over the Furman Paladins (2-1, 0-0) on Saturday inside the GSU Sports Arena. The win pushed the Panthers to 3-0 start on the season.
Myllena Torquetti and Nazli Guvener each recorded double-doubles to pace the attack, with Torquetti posting 10 kills and 10 digs and Guvener tallying 18 kills and 12 digs. Maria Cecilia de Pinho added a career-high 20 kills to fuel the offense, while Marta Lazzarin anchored the back row with a career-best 22 digs. Torquetti also contributed five blocks to round out a balanced effort on both sides of the net.
How It Happened
Set 1 | The Panthers won the first point and never looked back to secure the first set 25-19. Georgia State led by seven points at 24-17 before closing out the set, totaling 17 kills in the frame.
Set 2 | Georgia State then dropped the second set 30-28, evening things at a set each. The Panthers came up short in a back-and-forth stanza that featured seven lead changes and 15 ties. Neither team led by more than four points along the way.
Set 3 | Georgia State bounced back following the second-set loss to grab the third set and a 2-1 lead in the match. The Panthers took the set 25-21 behind a .424 attack percentage, their most efficient frame of the day, with 17 kills. Georgia State opened up a 19-13 lead and controlled the rest of the way.
Set 4 | The Panthers kept the momentum rolling, claiming the match with a 25-22 fourth-set win. Georgia State took the lead for good at 10-9 in a set that included two lead changes before the Panthers closed it out. Nineteen of their 25 points came via the kill.
Game Notes
- Maria Cecilia de Pinho posted a career-best 20 kills, shattering her previous season high of 11 against Presbyterian. Her 22.5 points also marked a new career best.
- Nazli Guvener tallied a career-high 18 kills and 20.5 points, surpassing her earlier high of 8 kills this season.
- Akira Burt recorded a new season-high with 12 kills, topping her 9 against Presbyterian.
- Myllena Torquetti added 10 kills and tied her season-best in blocks (5 total).
- Shanelle Martinez dished out 28 assists, just shy of her season-high 19 in three sets, but a new career best in a four-set match.
- Marta Lazzarin anchored the defense with a career-high 22 digs, eclipsing her previous best of 18.
- As a team, Georgia State's 72 kills were the most in a match this season, topping the previous high of 46 against Presbyterian.
- Myllena Torquetti and Nazli Guvener each secured double-doubles in the win.
- Georgia State had four players in double figures in kills.
- Georgia State never trailed on the way to winning the first set 25-19.
