ATLANTA — The Georgia State volleyball team (1-3, 0-0 SBC) rallied in a five-set win over Kennesaw State (3-1, 0-0 CUSA) on Thursday night at GSU Sports Arena.
Akira Burt led the way with a match-high 26 kills and posted a double-double, adding 15 digs to go with a team-high three aces. Julie Arias chipped in 10 kills, while Sigrun Jonsdottir paced the defense with a team-high 19 digs. Mina Olgar was a force at the net with a match-high 11 blocks, and Annelore Engels ran the offense with a team-high 22 assists.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The two porgrams battled through 11 ties and five lead changes before the Panthers pulled ahead for good at 15-14. Akira Burt took over down the stretch, delivering the final two kills of the set as Georgia State closed out a 25-20 win.
SET 2 | The Panthers built an early cushion, riding a hot stretch from Burt to a 9-2 lead and later 15-12. However, Kennesaw State clawed back point by point, eventually tying it before pulling ahead late to escape with a 25-23 win and even the match.
SET 3 | Georgia State answered immediately, trading points with the Owls through a tight opening before finding separation. Panthers' defense turned away five Kennesaw State attacks and forced 12 hitting errors, while three service aces kept the pressure on. Tied at 12-12, Georgia State reeled off a decisive closing surge to take the set, 25-17, and a 2-1 match lead.
SET 4 | Kennesaw State turned the tables in the fourth, building an early lead and holding off a late Georgia State push. The Panthers hit a sharp .406 with 15 kills in the set but couldn't complete the comeback, dropping it 25-21 to force a fifth.
SET 5 | Georgia State never trailed in the decisive set. The Panthers grabbed the lead on the first point and steadily built on it, getting key stops at the net to open a six-point cushion before closing out the match, 15-9, for the five-set win.
Game Notes
» This match marks the first win under Jorge Martinez.
» Akira Burt recorded a double-double with 26 kills and 15 digs, reaching a new career-high.
» Georgia State had five players reach double figures in digs.
» Burt also led the team with three service aces.
» Mina Olgar tallied a match-high 11 blocks, only one block shy of tying the GSU program record of blocks in a five set match.
» Sigrun Jonsdottir paced Georgia State with 19 digs.
» Annelore Engels dished out a team-high 22 assists.
» Georgia State's dominance at the net was especially effective in the fifth set, turning away five KSU attacks.
» The Panthers never trailed in the decisive fifth set.
Up Next
The Panthers head to Kennesaw, Ga. for day two of the GSU Invitational, where they'll face Alabama A&M on Friday at 2 p.m. at VyStar Arena.
