Georgia State holds off ODU’s third-set response in series opener
Old Dominion won the third set but could not extend the match further as Georgia State took Friday’s Sun Belt volleyball series opener 3–1 at the GSU Sports Arena in Atlanta. The Panthers won 25–17, 25–22, 15–25 and 25–19.
Old Dominion won the third set but could not extend the match further as Georgia State took Friday’s Sun Belt volleyball series opener 3–1 at the GSU Sports Arena in Atlanta. The Panthers won 25–17, 25–22, 15–25 and 25–19.
ODU’s strongest stretch came after falling behind two sets. The Monarchs opened an 8–2 third-set lead and pushed it to 17–9, with Kyra Hampton contributing a kill and another ace during that stretch.
The Monarchs led 6–5 early in the fourth, but Georgia State answered with an 8–1 run. ODU later trimmed an 18–11 deficit to 18–15 before the Panthers closed out the match.
Katie Rakoski and Rita Benidio each recorded 13 kills for ODU. Hampton finished with 31 assists and three service aces, and Ashlyn Gent had 16 digs. Both teams recorded 50 kills, but Georgia State hit .263 to ODU’s .150 and held a 12–5 advantage in team blocks.
ODU fell to 4–14 overall and 0–7 in Sun Belt play; Georgia State moved to 8–11 and 2–5. The teams meet again Saturday, October 17, at 2 p.m. Eastern in Atlanta.