MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The Georgia State volleyball team (4-4, 0-0 SBC) went undefeated during day one of the Blue Raider Bash, rallying from a set down to beat Middle Tennessee 3-1 on Friday afternoon before racking up 52 kills in a 3-0 sweep over Murray State later in the day at Alumni Memorial Gym.
Sophia Johnson posted a double-double of 17 kills and 12 digs against Middle Tennessee, then followed it up with another 17-kill effort on a sparkling .310 clip against Murray State. Akira Burt hammered a match-high 20 kills in the opener before adding 13 more in the nightcap. Sigrun Jonsdottir anchored the back row in both matches, digging up 14 balls versus the Blue Raiders and a match-high 19 versus the Racers.
Georgia State (3) vs. Middle Tennessee (1)
SET 1 | The Panthers found themselves in an early deficit, dropping a tough first set 25-18. Georgia State trailed by as many as seven points as Middle Tennessee grabbed the advantage for good at 15-14 in a set that was tied up nine times before the Blue Raiders took over in the second half of the stanza.
SET 2 | Georgia State rallied from a first-set loss to take set two 25-17, tying the match at 1-1. The Panthers took a 1-0 lead and never looked back in the set to secure the victory. Georgia State opened up as much as a nine-point lead at 13-4 before closing out the set, with the offense also getting a boost from four aces in the stanza.
SET 3 | Georgia State grabbed another win in set three to make it a 2-1 match. The Panthers scored first and never trailed in the set to secure a 25-23 victory. Georgia State opened up as much as a six-point lead at 11-5 before finishing off the set, totaling 18 kills in the process.
SET 4 | Georgia State closed out the match with a 25-22 fourth-set victory, winning their third straight set. The Panthers took the lead for good at 9-8 in a set that showcased two lead changes before Georgia State pulled away down the stretch.
Georgia State (3) vs. Murray State (0)
SET 1 | The Panthers won the first point and held the lead the rest of the way to secure the first set 25-20. Georgia State led by as many as 11 points at 23-12 before finishing off the set, collecting 21 kills along the way.
SET 2 | Georgia State took the second set 25-23 to jump out to a 2-0 lead in the match. The Panthers survived a back-and-forth set to win in a stanza that featured six lead changes and was tied seven times. Neither team led by more than four points along the way.
SET 3 | Georgia State finished off the 3-0 sweep after winning the third set. The Panthers persevered in a back-and-forth set to win 25-21 in a stanza that featured seven lead changes and was tied 10 times, with neither team opening up a lead of more than four points along the way.
Game Notes
» Georgia State had three players in double figures in kills against Middle Tennessee.
» Dariana Valencia had a team-high three aces against Middle Tennessee and dished out a match-high 26 assists against Murray State.
» Sophia Johnson registered a double-double with 17 kills and 12 digs versus the Blue Raiders.
» Georgia State never trailed on the way to winning the second and third sets against Middle Tennessee.
» Akira Burt had a match-high 20 kills against Middle Tennessee.
» Georgia State got a team-high 14 digs from Sigrun Jonsdottir against Middle Tennessee.
» Manuela Altieri Liev had a team-high one ace in the win over Murray State.
» Georgia State put together a strong attacking performance against Murray State, notching 52 kills in the match.
» Georgia State never trailed on the way to winning the first set against Murray State.
» Sigrun Jonsdottir had a match-high 19 digs against Murray State.
Up Next
Georgia State closes out the Blue Raider Bash on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 1 p.m. against Northern Colorado at Alumni Memorial Gym.
