ATLANTA - Georgia State opens the 2024 season hosting Indiana State, South Dakota and Florida A&M in the GSU Invitational on Aug. 30-31 at 1:30 p.m. at the GSU Sports Arena. The GSU Invitational will feature a neutral-site match before the Panthers open up 2024 play against Indiana State at 1:30 p.m. Head coach Flavia Siqueira makes her coaching debut at Georgia State after serving as the head coach at Auburn Montogmery for five years.
This marks the first-ever meeting between Georgia State and both Indiana State and South Dakota. On Saturday Aug. 31, the Panthers will face Florida A&M for just the second time, having swept them 3-0 in their last encounter in 2010.
Georgia State returns five key players from the 2023 season, including standout libero Livy Kowalkowski, middle blocker Kayla Broom, outside hitter Jahniya Jackson, middle blocker Akira Burt and right side hitter Izzy Durnell. Kowalkowski, who led the Sun Belt Conference with 507 digs last season, is currently ranked 56th nationally in career digs. She also earned Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week honors on September 5, 2023.
Sophomore Akira Burt, the Sun Belt Conference leader in blocks, returns to strengthen the Panthers' lineup. As a freshman, Burt averaged 1.24 blocks per set and accumulated a total of 102 blocks.
The Panthers welcome 14 new players for the 2024 season, including ten transfers and four true freshmen. Among them are Myllena Torquetti, Alessia Cappai, and Kaleigh Fitzgerald, who followed Coach Siqueira from Auburn Montgomery.
Graduate transfer Kaleigh Fitzgerald was the 2023 Gulf South Conference Libero of the Year, leading Auburn Montgomery with 59 aces and 482 digs. Myllena Torquetti, another key addition, averaged 1.86 kills per set and ranked third on the team with 219 kills last season. Junior transfer Alessia Cappai was the top offensive threat for the Warhawks, leading the team with 227 kills on 586 total attacks.
Following the GSU Invitational, Georgia State will compete in the West Georgia Tournament on September 6, where they will face Morgan State, UNC Asheville, and West Georgia.
