ATLANTA — The Georgia State volleyball team (9-11, 3-5 SBC) outlasted Old Dominion (4-15, 0-8 SBC) through four sets on Saturday afternoon at the GSU Sports Arena, completing a weekend sweep over the Monarchs.
Akira Burt led the Panthers with a match-high 17 kills and 21.0 points, while Sophia Johnson added 16 kills on .289 hitting, including seven in the fourth set. Annelore Engels ran the offense with a match-high 39 assists and a team-high nine digs, and Manuela Altieri Liev chipped in five kills and five aces. Jayden Eaker anchored the front row with a team-high seven blocks (one solo, six assists) as Georgia State out-blocked the Monarchs, 11-8. The Panthers recorded 10 aces to Old Dominion's five.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Panthers took the opener 25-18 in a set with five ties and four lead changes. Georgia State took the lead for good at 8-7 and went up by as many as nine points, at 15-8. Altieri Liev served four straight points, including an ace, during a 5-0 run that opened the lead, and the Panthers finished with four aces in the set. They hit .222 in the set to Old Dominion's -.037.
SET 2 | Old Dominion evened the match at 1-1 with a 25-20 win. The Monarchs took the lead for good at 17-12 after a back-and-forth start and led by as many as seven. Georgia State hit just .048 in the set with nine errors. Eaker had four block assists in the set.
SET 3 | The Panthers answered with a 25-22 win and a 2-1 lead. Old Dominion led 6-0 early, but Georgia State came back and took the lead for good at 14-13 behind a 9-1 run. They scored the final three points, with three aces in the set, including two from Altieri Liev. Burt had six kills in the set.
SET 4 | Georgia State survived a 27-25 thriller to close out the match. The set was tied 11 times and had five lead changes, and the Panthers rallied from a deficit to tie it at 25-25. Johnson had seven kills on .667 hitting in the set, and the Panthers hit .211 with 17 kills.
Game Notes
» Akira Burt had a match-high 17 kills and 21.0 points.
» Sophia Johnson added 16 kills on .289 hitting.
» Manuela Altieri Liev had a team-high five aces.
» Annelore Engels had a match-high 39 assists and a team-high nine digs.
» Jayden Eaker had a team-high seven blocks (one solo, six assists).
» Georgia State out-blocked Old Dominion, 11-8, and swept the series.
Up Next
The Panthers hit the road for a two-match series at Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C. The first match is Friday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m., with the finale set for Saturday, Oct. 24, at 2 p.m.
