Location: Atlanta, Ga. 
Game 1 vs. Queens: Friday, Sept. 5 @ 1:30 p.m.  
Game 2 vs. FAMU: Friday, Sept. 5 @ 6:30 p.m.  
Game 3 vs. Evansville: Saturday, Sept. 6 @ 2:00 p.m.  

Follow the Action: X | Instagram

ATLANTA - After sweeping the competition at home in their first tournament of the season, Georgia State volleyball enters their second tournament of the 2025 season with a 3-0 record. The Panthers will host Queens, Florida A&M, and Evansville in the GSU Invitational on Sep. 5-6, beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Friday in the GSU Sports Arena.  

This weekend's GSU Invitational will feature a neutral-site match before the Panthers take on the Royals of Queens University at 1:30 p.m. 

SERIES HISTORY 
Georgia State will face Queens for the first time ever in program this Friday.  

This will be the third meeting for Georgia State and Florida A&M, as the Panthers hold a 2-0 record over the Rattlers. Their last meeting was hosted by the Panthers in 2024 where the two battled to 30 points in the first set and the Panthers ultimately won in four sets. The two first battled back in 2010 resulting in a 3-0 sweep for the Panthers.  

The Panthers will also meet the Evansville Aces for the first time in program history this weekend.  

ACROSS THE NET 
Queens University enters the GSU Invitational coming of a three-game win streak and boasting a 3-1 record. The Royals fell to UNC Greensboro in their first game of the season at the Spartan Invitational but responded with a win against Gardner-Webb and a sweep against Sacred Heart to finish the tournament. In a single-game match up at South Carolina Upstate this week, the Royals took home a 3-1 win with Freshman Elizabeth Layson tallying a game-high 17 kills and seven blocks.  

According to the SWAC preseason rankings, the Rattlers of FAMU are projected to sit in first place in the conference for the 2025 season, with 13 votes supporting the Rattlers' domination. Coming out of a big away trip at the Hampton Invitational in Virginia, the Rattlers of FAMU enter the GSU Invitational with a record of 1-2. Despite their sweep against host team Hampton University, the Rattlers fell to East Carolina in a sweep and Maryland Eastern Shore in a close five-set match. Junior Iyonnie Sanford currently holds the most kills for FAMU this season, with 29 kills across 11 sets played. She also earned All-SWAC First Team in this year's preseason honors. Paired with Junior setter Bengisu Kazazlar, who has tallied 50 assists this season, these two form a strong offense for the Rattlers. 

The Evansville Aces travel to Atlanta this weekend carrying a 1-3 record in the 2025 season. Though ranked at the bottom of the Missouri Valley Conference preseason rankings, the Aces are determined to show their talent at the GSU Invitational this weekend. The Aces have lost this year to Butler and Middle Tennessee State in the Butler Big Dawg Kickoff as well as Michigan State in a single-game face off at home. Their only win this season was a fierce five-set face-off with Purdue Fort Wayne where Junior libero Ainoah Cruz tallied a season high 31 digs, giving her the lead on digs this season with a total of 90 before the GSU Invitational.  

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 wasted no time making a statement on opening weekend, with three Panthers turning in double-doubles to launch the 2025 season. Nazli Guvener powered the offense against Furman (8/30) with 18 kills while holding her own defensively with 12 digs. Myllena Torquetti matched that two-way impact, finishing with 10 kills and 10 digs, while setter Shanelle Martinez kept the rhythm steady by dishing out 28 assists and adding 10 digs of her own. 

SUN BELT DOMINANCE 
Following their 3-0 sweep in the first tournament of the 2025 season, the Panthers are ranked first in the Sun Belt for team assists per set (14.00), team hitting percentage (.294), and team kills per set (15.10). Maria Cecilia de Pinho's standout performance last weekend gave her a second-place ranking for her hitting percentage of .500 and a sixth-place ranking in kills per set (3.60). Marta Lazzarin also holds two Sun Belt rankings after last weekend including third for digs per set (5.00) and fifth for total digs (50).  

GSU INVITATIONAL 
The GSU Invitational has been a staple for Georgia State volleyball for 13 seasons, dating back to 1994. The Panthers have battled their way to a 24-20 overall record. In the 2025 edition, Georgia State delivered a dominant showing, finishing the weekend undefeated at 3-0. The Panthers opened play with back-to-back sweeps over Presbyterian and West Georgia before closing the tournament with a 3-1 win against Furman. 

Full GSU Invitational Schedule: 

Sept. 5	11:00 AM	FAMU vs. Evansville
Sept. 5	1:30 PM	GSU vs. Queens
Sept. 5	4:30 PM	Evansville vs. Queens
Sept. 5	6:30 PM	GSU vs FAMU
Sept. 6	11:00 AM	Queens vs. FAMU
Sept. 6	2:00 PM	GSU vs. Evansville