Location: Atlanta, Ga. 
Match 15: James Madison @ 6 p.m. 
Match 16: James Madison @ 6 p.m. 
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ATLANTA – Georgia State volleyball returns to the GSU Sports Arena to host James Madison in a two-match Sun Belt Conference series. The Panthers and Dukes square off Thursday, Oct. 1, and Friday, Oct. 2, with first serve at 6 p.m. both nights.

SERIES HISTORY 
Georgia State holds a 6-18 record against James Madison in the all-time series. The Dukes have won the last three meetings, including both matches in the 2025 series. Georgia State's most recent victory came on Oct. 4, 2024, when the Panthers earned a 3-2 win in Atlanta. The Panthers own a 5-6 record at home, an 0-11 mark on the road and a 1-1 record at neutral sites in the series, and their longest winning streak against the Dukes is two matches, from Nov. 5, 2010, to Oct. 30, 2011. Georgia State most recently met James Madison on Oct. 4, 2025, falling 3-2 in Harrisonburg, Va. 

SCOUTING THE DUKES 
James Madison enters the series 7-5 overall and 2-0 in Sun Belt play after opening conference action with back-to-back sweeps of South Alabama. The Dukes defeated the Jaguars 3-0 on Sept. 25 before repeating the result the following day. JMU has won five straight matches heading into its first conference road trip of the season. The Dukes finished the non-conference portion of their schedule 5-5 after sweeping all three matches at the LD&B Insurance Invitational. Two Dukes were recognized by the Sun Belt for their performances that week, with Kennedy Louisell earning week four Offensive Player of the Week and Ayen Nhial named Defensive Player of the Week. James Madison is led by 17th-year head coach Lauren Steinbrecher, who owns a career record of 295-154. 

KILLA 'KIRA  
Akira Burt has hit double-digit kills in every match except one this season. She leads the team in kills by more than 25, and ranks first in the Sun Belt with 243.0 points and 206 total kills. She also ranks fifth in the Sun Belt with 3.68 kills per set and 4.34 points per set. Nationally, she ranks in the top 30 in multiple categories, highlighted by a 14th place finish in points, 16th in total kills and 29th in total attacks. 

1K/2K CLUB - PARTY OF ONE 
Dariana Valencia continues the season as a member of the 1k/2k club, having racked up 1,868 assists and 892 digs across three seasons at Little Rock. This season at Georgia State, she's added 223 assists and 121 digs to total for 2,091 assists and 1,013 digs. 

MAKING NOISE ON THE NATIONAL STAGE 
Georgia State is making noise on the national stage this season, landing in the top 50 of the NCAA in eight statistical categories, including four in the top 30. The Panthers' defense has been a driving force, with the team ranking 14th nationally in total blocks (140.0) and 47th in blocks per set (2.50). Jayden Eaker (62) and Mina Olgar (61) sit 41st and 48th in total blocks, while the team is 45th in service aces (92). Individually, Akira Burt has been putting up numbers with the best of them, sitting 14th in the nation in points (243.0), 16th in total kills (206) and 29th in total attacks (549). 

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. 

THAT'S OUR FRESHMAN  
Freshman outside hitter Sophia Johnson has been the driving force behind Georgia State's double-double production this season, recording four through 12 matches. The Sun Belt's Week 3 Offensive Player of the Week has also made her mark across the conference, ranking fifth in service aces (19) and sixth in both points (174.5) and total attacks (413). She sits sixth in total kills (143), 11th in kills per set (3.11) and 15th in total digs (123). 

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.