Location: Atlanta, Ga. 
Match 19: Old Dominion @ 6 p.m. 
Match 20: Old Dominion @ 2 p.m. 
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ATLANTA – Georgia State volleyball returns to the GSU Sports Arena to host Old Dominion for a two-match series. The Panthers and Monarchs open the weekend on Friday, Oct. 16 with a Pink Out match at 6 p.m. before closing out the series with Greek Day on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. 

SERIES HISTORY 
Old Dominion holds a 5-3 advantage in the all-time series against Georgia State. The two programs first met on Nov. 4, 2022, with the Monarchs earning a 3-1 win in Atlanta, Ga. Georgia State dropped the first four meetings before earning its first victory in the series on Oct. 18, 2024. Georgia State owns a 2-2 record at home and a 1-3 mark on the road in the series, and is 3-5 in conference matchups against the Monarchs. The Panthers most recently met Old Dominion on Oct. 18, 2025, earning a 3-1 win in Norfolk, Va., to avenge a 3-2 loss the previous night. 

SCOUTING THE MONARCHS
Old Dominion enters the series 4-13 overall and 0-6 in Sun Belt play after dropping back-to-back four-set matches to Coastal Carolina last weekend in Norfolk. The Monarchs are still searching for their first conference win, carrying a nine-match losing skid. ODU finished non-conference play 4-7 and went 0-3 at neutral sites. Old Dominion is led by seventh-year head coach Fred Chao, who owns a 71-103 career record. 

KILLA 'KIRA  
Akira Burt earned Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week for week seven after powering Georgia State through a two-match weekend at Southern Miss, totaling 39 kills, 42.0 points, 19 digs and six blocks while hitting .257 and averaging 4.88 kills per set. She has hit double-digit kills in every match except two this season and leads the team in kills by more than 40. She ranks first in the Sun Belt with 735 total attacks, and second with 276 total kills and 318.0 points. She also ranks third in the conference with 3.83 kills per set and 4.42 points per set, and fourth with 10.21 attacks per set. Nationally, she ranks in the top 20 in multiple categories, including 14th in points, 15th in total kills and 18th in total attacks 

1K/2K Club - PARTY OF ONE 
Dariana Valencia continues the season as a member of the 1k/2k club, having racked up 1,868 assists and 892 digs across three seasons at Little Rock. This season at Georgia State, she's added 236 assists and 139 digs to total for 2,104 assists and 1,031 digs. 

MAKING NOISE ON THE NATIONAL STAGE 
Georgia State is making noise on the national stage this season, landing in the top 50 of the NCAA in six statistical categories, including three in the top 20. Akira Burt has been putting up numbers with the best of them, sitting 14th in the nation in points (318.0), 15th in total kills (276) and 18th in total attacks (735). The Panthers' defense has also been a driving force, with the team ranking 29th nationally in total blocks (168.0) and 37th in total digs (1,055). Georgia State also checks in 47th in team total attacks (2,496) 

MARTINEZ AT THE HELM 
Jorge Martinez joined Georgia State as head coach of the volleyball program in February 2026. Martinez comes to GSU after six seasons at Arkansas Little Rock, where he served four years as an assistant coach before being promoted to associate head coach in his final two seasons with the Trojans. 

NEW TO THE A 
Georgia State welcomes 14 newcomers to the roster for 2026, including eight freshmen and six transfers. Freshmen Milana Holland, Sydney Crowder, Madilyn Lenox, Sigrun Jonsdottir, Jayden Fitzgerald, Annelore Engels, Sophia Johnson and Julie Arias bring youth and potential, while transfers Reagan Elizondo (South Carolina), Dariana Valencia (Little Rock), Leilani-Kai Giusta (Quinnipiac), Charley Goberville (Cornell), Mina Olgar (UC San Diego) and Isabel Morales (Little Rock) add collegiate experience and depth to the Panthers' lineup. 

THAT'S OUR FRESHMAN  
Freshman outside hitter Sophia Johnson has been the driving force behind Georgia State's double-double production this season, recording four through 12 matches. The Sun Belt's Week 3 Offensive Player of the Week has also made her mark across the conference, ranking fifth in service aces (19) and sixth in both points (174.5) and total attacks (413). She sits sixth in total kills (143), 11th in kills per set (3.11) and 15th in total digs (123). 

FRESHMEN FRENZY 
Georgia State features one of the largest freshman classes in the Sun Belt for the 2026 season, tying ULM with eight freshmen. Milana Holland, Sydney Crowder, Madilyn Lenox, Sigrun Jonsdottir, Jayden Fitzgerald, Annelore Engels, Sophia Johnson and Julie Arias make up the Panthers' freshman class. 

SO INTERNATIONAL 
Georgia State's volleyball roster is rich with international flair. Nearly a third of the 2026 squad hails from overseas, with five of the 17 players bringing valuable international experience to the court.