ATLANTA, Ga. – The New Orleans Privateers battled valiantly to extend the match to a fourth set but their comeback attempt fell short in a 3-1 (25-23, 27-25, 25-27, 25-13) loss to the Georgia State Panthers on Friday evening at the GSU Sports Arena.
HOW IT HAPPENED
New Orleans was on the brink in each of the first two sets. Though the Panthers had three more kills in the opening set, the Privateers had five fewer attack errors. Still, the Panthers managed to get to a 24-21 advantage with three chances at set point.
New Orleans fended off two of them with a kill from
Ava Kennon and an ensuing attack error. The third time was the charm for Georgia State though as Erin Wyatt's kill gave the Panthers a 1-0 advantage.
The Privateers dominated the early proceedings in the second set and they led by as many as eight points at 15-7. From there, Georgia State rattled off 10 of the next 12 points to erase the daunting deficit.
New Orleans at 24-23, had a look at set point after a
Ryan Williams kill but the Panthers fought that off with a Jordin Taulua kill. That pushed the set to extra rallies where the Panthers broke through for a 2-0 lead.
The Privateers, facing a 2-0 disadvantage, showed grit throughout the third set. Neither team batted an eye and neither team led by more than two points. It was always destined to go to extra rallies but the Privateers held firm with a tandem block by
Sydney Gott and
Chandler Lee sealing the set.
The Panthers put all doubt away early in the fourth though as they raced out to an 11-4 lead and never looked back. Georgia State hit .462 in the deciding set.
INSIDE THE BOX
Karen Cordero Barr led the offense with 16 kills and also contributed six digs. Williams added 11 kills and Kennon finished with eight kills and a .333 attack percentage. Gott and
Irene Kitson each had four total blocks.
Tatiana Mercer had 13 digs and
Claire Turner finished with 32 assists.
Izzy Durnell led the Panthers' attack with 15 kills and a .464 attack percentage. Livy Kowalkowski had 22 digs to lead the defense.
NEXT UP
The Privateers close the weekend on Saturday when they face South Carolina State at 11 a.m. EST.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow
@PrivateersVB on Twitter,
@PrivateersVB on Instagram, like
/PrivateersVB on Facebook and subscribe to the
PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
