The Georgia State University volleyball team dropped a pair of matches on Saturday at the Courtyard by Marriott Chanticleer Invitational. The Panthers (0-9) fell to UT-Chattanooga 3-1 on Saturday morning, before falling to Troy, 3-0, in the afternoon match.
Senior Liz Schaab led the Panthers in Saturday morning's match against the Mocs (3-5). Schaab scored a season high 14 kills, while fellow senior Michelle Trimble added 10.
The Panthers came out firing in set one, taking it 25-22. The rest of the match would be a nail-bitter, as Chattanooga would take the second set 25-23. The Mocs would hit an astonishing .452 in the third set, taking it 25-14, however, the Panthers would not go easily, down two sets to one.
State would come out swinging in the fourth set and take an early six point lead. The Panthers would lead 16-10 midway through the set, however the Mocs would go on a 6-0 run to tie the set at 16. From that point forward, the teams would exchange points, before Chattanooga would use a late run to take the set, 25-23.
Junior-transfer Jessica Tjaden scored a season-high 40 assists, while Audrey Cantrell added a season-high 17 digs.
The second match of the day would be another tight one for the Panthers. Freshman Torrie Brown would lead the Panthers with eight kills, while Schaab and Trimble added seven a piece.
State would drop the first set to the Trojans (7-4), 25-20. The second set would be even tighter as the Panthers and Trojans would exchange points early. State would then go on a run to take a 16-12 lead midway through the set. The Trojans would use a 6-2 run to tie the set at 18 and from that point, never looked back, winning the set, 25-22.
Unfortunately for the Panthers, the third set would be end with the same result, falling 25-19.
Tjaden added 24 assists for State, while Cantrell added another 10 digs.
Troy won the tournament, going 3-0, while host Coastal Carolina went 2-1.
Georgia State will travel west next weekend for the Denver Invitational, which will be played Friday and Saturday and feature match-ups against Denver, SMU and UNLV.
