Location: Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Match 7: Middle Tennessee @ 1:30 p.m.
Match 8: Murray State @ 5:30 p.m.
Match 9: Northern Colorado @ 1 p.m.
Follow the Action: X | Instagram
ATLANTA – Georgia State volleyball heads to Murfreesboro, Tenn., for the Blue Raider Bash, a three-match tournament hosted by Middle Tennessee. The Panthers kick off the tournament Friday, Sept. 11, with a 1:30 p.m. match against the host Blue Raiders, and turn around later in the day to face Murray State at 5:30 p.m. Georgia State wraps up the weekend Saturday, Sept. 12, against Northern Colorado at 1 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY
Georgia State holds a 1-1 series record with Middle Tennessee. The two programs first met on Sept. 1, 2003, with the Panthers winning 3-2 at home. Georgia State's most recent meeting against the Blue Raiders happened on Sept. 7, 2007, when the Panthers fell 1-3 on the road in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Georgia State holds a 0-2 series record with Murray State. The two programs first met on Aug. 29, 2015, with the Panthers falling 0-3 at a neutral site. Georgia State's most recent meeting against the Racers happened on Sept. 9, 2023, when the Panthers fell 0-3 at a neutral site.
This weekend's match in Murfreesboro will mark the first-ever meeting between the Georgia State and Northern Colorado programs.
SCOUTING THE BLUE RAIDERS
Middle Tennessee enters the weekend at 4-2 on the season with all four wins coming at neutral sites, but arrives on a one-match losing skid. The Blue Raiders split a pair of tournaments to open the year, going 2-1 at the Bulldog Invitational in Asheville and 2-1 at the Belmont Invitational. In Middle Tennessee's opening week of play, the Blue Raiders picked up two individual Conference USA weekly honors. Michaela Dlouhá earned CUSA Defensive Player of the Week, while freshman libero Marianne Garcia was named CUSA Freshman of the Week after racking up a team-leading 43 digs across all 12 sets in her collegiate debut weekend. The Blue Raiders are led by head coach Alexa Keckler, who enters her second season at the helm after being named the 13th head coach in MTSU volleyball history in March 2025.
SCOUTING THE RACERS
Murray State enters the weekend at 1-5 on the season and riding a two-match losing streak. The Racers dropped all three matches at the USI Invitational before rebounding to sweep host Northern Illinois at the NIU Invitational. Murray State closed that tournament with losses to Lindenwood and Portland State. The Racers are led by Tristyn Krzos, who enters her fourth season with the program and her first as acting head coach. Krzos was elevated from assistant coach following longtime head coach Dave Schwepker's retirement.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
Northern Colorado enters the weekend at 1-4. The Bears arrive with plenty of pedigree as they were tabbed the preseason favorite in the Big Sky Conference as the defending league champion. Outside hitter Alayna Tessena and setter Nerea Alvarez Jorge both earned Preseason All-Conference honors. Tessena paced the Bears with 476 kills, while Alvarez produced 14 double-doubles in 2025 en route to Second Team All-Conference recognition. Northern Colorado's early-season slate has been a gauntlet, including a four-set loss to UC Davis, a road loss at Colorado State, and a trip through the Colorado Classic, where the Bears beat Wichita State in four but fell to New Mexico and No. 23 Colorado. The Bears are led by Lyndsey Oates, who enters her 22nd season with the program.
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.
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.
