HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Georgia State volleyball team (9-2, SBC 0-0) walked away as the 2025 Sam Houston Classic Champions after a 3-0 sweep over the Houston Christian Huskies (5-8, SLC 0-0) Saturday afternoon at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
Maria Cecilia de Pinho paced the attack, registering 11 kills while hitting .375. Defensively, the Panthers had two players reach double figures in digs as Marta Lazzarin had 20 and Alessia Cappai had 12.
How It Happened
Set 1 | Georgia State battled back from an early deficit to edge Houston Christian, 25-23. The Panthers trailed by as many as six but seized momentum with an 18-17 lead and never relinquished it. The frame featured three lead changes before Georgia State pulled away late, aided by four service aces.
Set 2 | The Panthers extended their lead with a 25-20 win in the second. After falling behind early, Georgia State took control for good at 12-11 in a set that saw only one lead change. Strong serving and steady execution helped the Panthers carry a 2-0 advantage into the break.
Set 3 | Georgia State closed out the match with a decisive 25-18 victory. The Panthers moved in front at 4-3 and never looked back, building their largest lead at 17-9 before finishing the sweep. The front row anchored the defense, turning back four Houston Christian attacks to seal the sweep.
Game Notes
Up Next
Georgia State will begin Sun Belt Conference play at home on Friday, September 26 at 6:00 pm, followed by Saturday, September 27 at 2:00 pm, when they host Arkansas State at the GSU Sports Arena in Atlanta.
