HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The Georgia State volleyball team (6-7, 0-1 SBC) dropped a five-set decision to Marshall on Thursday night at Cam Henderson Center, falling 3-2 despite winning the first two sets.
The Panthers were led by double-doubles from Sophia Johnson and Dariana Valencia. Johnson registered 14 kills and 13 digs, while Valencia dished out 23 assists to go with 10 digs. Akira Burt also added 17 kills to help the offense, and Julie Arias pitched in six kills. On the defensive end, Sigrun Jonsdottir chipped in with 19 digs to go with 10 blocks from Mina Olgar.
How It Happened
SET 1 | Georgia State came out swinging, riding an early lead all the way to a 25-18 win. A 15-kill outing kept Marshall on its heels throughout, and the Panthers pushed the margin to double digits at 21-11 before closing it out. Three aces added an extra edge to the opening frame.
SET 2 | The Panthers kept the momentum rolling in set two, pulling ahead for good at 5-4 and cruising from there to a 25-19 win and a 2-0 match lead. A six-point cushion at 22-16 gave Georgia State plenty of breathing room down the stretch, and four blocks up front kept Marshall's offense in check.
SET 3 | Marshall avoided the sweep and kept the match alive with a 25-19 win in set three. Georgia State trailed by as many as eight points as Marshall grabbed the advantage for good at 8-7 in a set that was knotted up six times before the Thundering Herd took over the lead.
SET 4 | Marshall drew level at two sets apiece with a 25-21 win, flipping a set that had been knotted up four times. The Thundering Herd seized control for good at 14-13 and Georgia State couldn't find an answer down the stretch.
SET 5 | It came down to the wire in Huntington. The decisive set swung back and forth, tied five times with two lead changes, before Marshall closed it out 16-14 to steal the match. Georgia State's block came up with four stops in the frame, but it wasn't enough to flip the finish.
Game Notes
» Georgia State had three players in double figures in digs.
» Julie Arias had a match-high six aces in the loss.
» Mina Olgar had a match-high 10 blocks.
» Sophia Johnson and Dariana Valencia each registered double-doubles, with Johnson posting 14 kills and 13 digs and Valencia recording 23 assists and 10 digs.
» Georgia State never trailed on the way to winning the first set 25-18.
» Akira Burt had a match-high 17 kills for Georgia State.
» Georgia State got a team-high 19 digs from Sigrun Jonsdottir.
» Dariana Valencia paced Georgia State's attack with a team-high 23 assists.
Up Next
Georgia State closes out the series with Marshall on Friday, Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. at Cam Henderson Center in Huntington, W.Va.
