MOBILE, Ala. — The Georgia State volleyball team (0-2, 0-0 SBC) dropped a four-set decision to the South Alabama Jaguars (1-2, 0-0 SBC) on Sunday afternoon at Jaguar Gymnasium.
Akira Burt paced the Panthers offensively with a team-high 12 kills, while Sophia Johnson turned in the match's top scoring effort with 16.5 points on 11 kills, four service aces and a team-high 27 reception attempts. Dariana Valencia anchored the back row with a team-high 15 digs.
How It Happened
SET 1 | Georgia State battled early behind Sophia Johnson, who racked up four kills and two service aces in the opening frame to help the Panthers stay within striking distance. The set featured four ties and three lead changes, but South Alabama found its footing late, hitting .321 as a team to close on a 5-1 run to take the 25-21 victory.
SET 2 | The Panthers responded in the second set, getting six combined kills from Julie Arias and Johnson. Georgia State built an early cushion and held it to even the match with a 25-20 win.
SET 3 | South Alabama's attack caught fire in the third, hitting .452 as a team and racing out to an early advantage. The Jaguars cruised from there to a 25-11 win.
SET 4 | Georgia State fought to stay in it behind kills from Burt and Manuela Altieri Liev, trailing just 24-20 in the closing stretch. South Alabama closed out the set, 25-20, to seal the four-set match win.
Game Notes
» Burt led with 12 kills and also finished with three total blocks.
» Johnson led the Panthers in scoring with 16.5 points, adding four service aces to go with her 11 kills.
» Annelore Engels dished out a team-high 26 assists along with seven digs.
» Jayden Eaker was Georgia State's top blocker, finishing with four total blocks.
» Julie Arias added six kills and served up two aces while also chipping in seven digs.
» Nine different Panthers recorded a kill on the afternoon.
Up Next
The Panthers open the GSU Invitational, hosted by Georgia State and Kennesaw State, beginning Thursday, Sept. 3 when they host KSU at 6 p.m. in the GSU Sports Arena. Georgia State then travels to Kennesaw, Ga. to face Alabama A&M on Friday, Sept. 4 at 2 p.m., before closing out the tournament back home against West Georgia on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 2 p.m.
