Volleyball advances to 4-2 in conference play

     In the first three matches of a five-game away stretch the Georgia State volleyball team advanced to 4-2 in Colonial Athletic Association play. The Panthers defeated Hofstra (11-12, 2-4) and UNC Wilmington (9-14, 2-4), but was swept by Northeastern (14-4, 4-2).

      The sweep by Northeastern marked the sixth time Georgia State has been swept this season, but the win against UNCW marked the sixth time the Panthers have swept an opponent. The Panthers are now 10-13 on the season, with a CAA standing of third place.

      During the preseason, Georgia State was slated to finish sixth overall, just enough to make the tournament for post season play. Georgia State defeated Hofstra in the teams' first meeting of the season 3-1 with sets of 25-22, 25-15, 23-25, and 25-20.

Muki Kangwa recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 17 kills and 12 digs. Vineece Verdun kept her dynamic play on the year with 13 kills. Fellow senior, Chelsea Perry, played her best game as a setter this year with 41 assists.

       The Panthers took the first two sets with aces from Andrea Noe and Kangwa, and also by capitalizing on the Pride's errors. Georgia State dropped the third set, after being down 13-8 to start, but went on to win the fourth set to take the match.

Despite a 17-dig game by junior Jamie Freeman, the Panthers lost to Northeastern on Oct. 9 with sets of 16-25, 16 -25, and 22-25.

      Freeman also recorded eight kills in the match and Kangwa led the Panthers with 11. Kangwa now has a total of 303 kills on the season to lead the Panthers. Verdun follows behind her with 207 kills so far this season. The Panthers suffered the sweep to Northeastern due to large deficits that the team could never recover from.

      After boasting her 17-dig performance, Freeman helped the Panthers defeat the Seahawks with a double-double. Freeman enjoyed her seventh double-double of the season with 14 kills and 11 digs. The Georgia State volleyball team swept UNCW 25-17, 25 -23, and 25-19. The Panthers are now 15-2 against UNCW. With the win over the Seahawks, Georgia State has now swept UNCW for the second year in a row.

       Freeman established a career-high 14 kills, while Kangwa and Verdun both finished with seven kills. Andrea Noe, who leads the team with a .929 serving percentage, recorded three aces in the match. There were 14 total aces in the match, the most of any Georgia State three-set match this year. The match against the Seahawks was packed with 42 kills and 51 digs as the Panthers played great team volleyball, never giving UNCW a chance at a victory. Georgia State is now tied for second in the CAA after the win.

       The Panthers will continue to play on the road at Delaware on Oct. 21 and at Towson on Oct. 22. The next home match for the Panthers will be Oct. 28 against George Mason.