MOBILE, Ala. — The Georgia State volleyball team (0-1, 0-0 SBC) opened the 2026 season with a three-set loss to the Mississippi State Bulldogs (1-0, 0-0 SEC) on Friday afternoon at Jaguar Gymnasium.
Akira Burt paced the Panthers offensively with a match-high 15 kills, while Dariana Valencia anchored the back row with a team-high 13 digs.
How It Happened
SET 1 | Georgia State struggled out of the gate, hitting just .061 as a team while Mississippi State attacked at a .162 clip. The set was tied seven times, including a 16-16 deadlock, before the Bulldogs took control down the stretch to close it out 25-20.
SET 2 | The Panthers' offense found more rhythm, hitting .200 as a team, but was unable to climb out of the early deficit. Georgia State fell behind from the first point before dropping the set 25-21 to fall into a 2-0 hole.
SET 3 | Georgia State's best offensive set came in the third set with a .250 hitting percentage, but wasn't enough to hold off the sweep. The set was tied nine times, including at 16-16, before Mississippi State pulled away in the back half to close out the 25-22 win and complete the sweep.
Game Notes
» Akira Burt led with a match-high 15 kills, coming just two kills shy of tying her own single-match career-high of 17.
» Sophia Johnson made an impressive collegiate debut, posting eight kills, three blocks, two assists and on a .320 hitting percentage.
» Seven different Panthers recorded a kill on the afternoon.
» Dariana Valencia paced the Panthers defensively with a team-high 13 digs.
» Annelore Engels dished out a team-high 15 assists.
Up Next
The Panthers return to Jag Gym on Saturday, August 29 for day two of the Jaguar Classic where they will face the Rice Owls at 3 p.m.
