Georgia State University Volleyball Team Defeats GMU on Senior Day, 3-1
ATLANTA -- The Georgia State volleyball team continued to control its on destiny in the race for a spot in the CAA Championship with a 3-1 victory over Georgia Mason on Senior Day at the Sports Arena.
The Panthers (14-12, 8-4 CAA) have won four-straight CAA matches for the first time since 2005, which was also the last time GSU has advanced to the CAA Championship. GSU has two regular season matches remaining. With two victories it can clinch a spot in the CAAs. GMU falls to 13-11 and 8-4 in the CAA.
"Our team knew what it had to do today and we came out and played a strong match today against a tough George Mason squad," said head coach Tami Audia. "We served extremely well and Ashley (Jones) had probably her best match of the season. It was really great to get a win on Senior Day and now we have to get ready for road matches against Towson and Delaware that will prove critical to our chances at making it to conference."
Senior Ashley Jones led the way for GSU with a 15 kill, 25 dig performance. The 25 digs was the most she has had since the DePaul match earlier in the year and gave her 13 double-doubles on the season. Redshirt-junior Vineece Verdun had 12 kills and two service aces, while junior Muki Kangwa had 14 kills and seven digs. Sophomore Jamiee Freeman had the final double-digit kill total with 11 and six digs. Senior libero Audrey Cantrell had 15 digs to move her to within 61 of the all-time GSU record. Setter Chelsea Perry had her ninth 50-plus assist match of the season and her fourth straight with a 51 assist performance.
The Patriots came out strong in the first set, claiming a quick 25-16 victory. GMU took an 8-2 lead early into the set, before GSU rallied to cut it to two, at 10-8 and 11-9. However, Mason ran off four-straight points to up the advantage to 15-9. GSU could get no closer than four the remainder of the set as the Patriots used a balanced attack to hold off the Panthers. A. Jones led GSU's attack with seven first-set kills. GMU held GSU to just a .150 attack percentage, while the Patriots hit .325.
Georgia State fought back in set two taking an early 10-1 lead. The Patriots would not fold as they pulled within two at 13-11. From there the set was back and forth with the Patriots tying the set at 24. GSU would not be denied though and with Kangwa serving, a pair of attack errors by Noelle Fanella gave the Panthers the set, notching the contest at one entering halftime. A. Jones led GSU through two sets as she had already produced her double-double at the break.
After falling behind 8-6 in set three, GSU tied the match at eight and never looked back, winning 25-22. Leading just 23-22, a service error by GMU gave the Panthers a bit of a cushion and a Verdun service ace gave GSU the set victory and a 2-1 lead.
Despite the 25-23 fourth-set score, GSU controlled much of the set, leading by as much as six at 14-8 and again at 15-9. Leading 20-15, the Panthers watched as Mason tallied five straight points to tie the match at 20. After going back and forth, a kill by Verdun gave GSU a 24-22 lead and a block by Perry and Raquel Jones' block two plays later GSU the four set victory.
Seniors Rachel Boryc, Audrey Cantrell, Ashley Jones and Raquel Jones were honored in ceremonies before the match. The group has helped lead the Panthers to their most conference wins since their first year in the CAA in 2005 when they made their lone trip to the postseason tournament.
