Box Score (html)

ATHENS, Ga. – The Georgia State volleyball team fell to 1-1 on the season with a  3-1 loss to Georgia Southern in their second match at the Benson Hospitality Bulldog Invitational at the University of Georgia Saturday. Georgia Southern improved to 1-1 with the win.

Freshman Sydney Hunsley led the way for Georgia State with nine kills. Junior libero Emily Averbeck led all participants with 24 digs in the match and freshman setter Natalia Nieto was just two digs shy of a double-double as she posted eight digs to go along with 16 assists.

Meredith Paskert led the Eagles with a match-high 15 kills while teammates Moriah Bellissimo and Jamie DeRatt each posted a double-double in kills and digs.

Georgia Southern took the crucial first set, 26-24, thanks to a late rally. Loren Byerly led the way for the Panthers in the first set with four kills while Averbeck earned eight digs.

The Panthers struggled offensively in the second set as they fell to the Eagles 25-12. Hunsley led GSU in scoring in the second frame with three kills.

GSU fought back hard to take set three, 25-23. The Eagles scored first, but a kill by Byerly, followed by two offensive miscues by the Eagles gave the Panthers a 3-1 lead. Georgia State never looked back in the third set as they held on to take the third set.

Georgia Southern rallied, however, to take the third set, 25-9, and the match 3-1.

Georgia State will face the Slovenian national team in exhibition Saturday at 1 p.m. GSU concludes play at the Bulldog Invitational Sunday at 1 p.m. as the Panthers face the host, the Georgia Bulldogs.