MACON, Ga. — The Georgia State volleyball team (6-6, 0-0 SBC) got double-doubles from Sophia Johnson and Akira Burt, but couldn't hold off Montana State, falling 3-2 Saturday afternoon at Hawkins Arena.
Sophia Johnson and Akira Burt each turned in double-doubles, with Johnson posting 20 kills and 16 digs and Burt leading with 21 kills and adding 10 digs of her own. Julie Arias chipped in six kills, while Sigrun Jonsdottir paced the defense with a team-high 24 digs and Jayden Eaker contributed five blocks up front.
How It Happened
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 Montana State grabbed the advantage for good at 9-8 in a set that was tied up seven times before the Bobcats took control.
SET 2 | Georgia State rallied from a first-set loss to take the second set 25-22, tying the match at one set apiece. The Panthers persevered past a Montana State rally, holding on to win after leading by seven points at 16-9 earlier in the set.
SET 3 | Georgia State built on that second-set success with a victory in set three to open up a lead. The Panthers survived a back-and-forth set to win 25-23 in a stanza that featured four lead changes and was tied 10 times, with neither team opening up a lead of more than three points along the way. Georgia State's front row had a solid defensive performance, blocking four Montana State attacks in the stanza.
SET 4 | Georgia State couldn't keep the win streak alive, as the Bobcats forced a fifth set with a 25-20 fourth-set win. The Panthers trailed by as many as seven points as Montana State grabbed the advantage for good at 3-2. Georgia State was unable to recover in a set that was knotted up four times before the Bobcats took over the lead.
SET 5 | Georgia State took a lead before dropping the final two sets, including a 17-15 loss in the fifth set. The Panthers fell in a back-and-forth set five, losing in a stanza that featured seven lead changes and was tied 14 times, with neither team leading by more than two points in the set.
Game Notes
» Sophia Johnson and Akira Burt both put up double-doubles.
» Georgia State had three players in double figures in digs.
» Sophia Johnson had a team-high two aces in the loss.
» Akira Burt had a match-high 21 kills for Georgia State.
» Georgia State got a team-high 24 digs from Sigrun Jonsdottir.
» Georgia State attackers were helped by a team-high 28 assists from Dariana Valencia.
Up Next
Georgia State opens Sun Belt Conference play with a two-match road trip to Huntington, W.Va., facing Marshall on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. and Friday, Sept. 25 at 6 p.m.
