What you need to know:
* Georgia State swept the competition Wednesday at Diggin' Duals at the GSU Sand Courts.
* The Panthers beat New Orleans, Mercer and South Carolina 5-0 each to improve to 5-0 on the season.
* GSU saw the final three matches versus the Gamecocks go down to a third set, all of which went the Panthers' way to preserve the sweep.
ATLANTA – Georgia State's sand volleyball team dodged the rain Wednesday at the GSU Sand Courts to host Diggin' Duals. The Panthers (5-0) battled New Orleans, Mercer and South Carolina, beating all three teams 5-0 to remain undefeated on the season.
The morning began at sunrise with Georgia State playing against New Orleans in the Privateers' first ever match. Georgia State put Sara Olivova and Jansen Button at No. 1 singles and the pair collected their first win of the season in duals play. The Panthers won in straight sets at all five singles to beat UNO 5-0.
GSU hosted Mercer at 11 a.m. for the second match of the day. This time, the Panthers switched up the lineup and threw Kate Rawls and Sarah Agnew in the top spot. Rawls and Agnew went down to the wire in Set 1 with Mercer's Tori Penrod and Emma Peel and won 22-20. Set 2 was close as well, but Agnew and Rawls were able to hold off the Bear pair to take the point with a 21-18 win. Once again, GSU finished off its opponent 5-0 without needing a third set at all five singles matches.
In the third match for GSU and the final competition of the day, the Panthers looked to be well on their way to another 5-0 victory against the 4-0 South Carolina Gamecocks. Delaney Rohan and Natalie Wilson won 25-23, 21-15 at No. 4 to move to 8-0 on the year. At No. 5, Jessica Fourspring and Nina Interwies dropped their second set, but rallied to win Set 3 15-11 and give GSU the 2-0 lead. Needing three points, South Carolina changed the momentum by winning Set 1 on Courts 1, 2 and 3. Georgia State kept fighting and clawed back on all three courts to force third sets. Agnew and Rawls went on a roll in Set 3 and never trailed. USC tied the match at 13, but the Panther duo finished strong to get their team the win. Shortly after, Olivova and Button claimed their third set and Majda Dostalova and Milani Pickering won Set 3 at No. 3 singles to give Georgia State the 5-0 sweep, its third of the day.
South Carolina went 1-1 on the day with a win over New Orleans. Mercer went 1-1, beating UNO and falling to GSU. New Orleans went 0-3 in the event.
The Panthers have a tough weekend ahead of them. Georgia State travels to St. Augustine this weekend to compete in the North Florida Invitational and will face FAU, LSU, North Florida and No. 7 FIU.
Follow along with Georgia State on Twitter (@GSUSandVB) for the latest news.
