TALLAHASSEE – The Georgia State Panthers (7-1, SBC 0-0) picked up a four-set road victory over the Florida A&M Rattlers (2-6, SWAC 0-0) on Saturday at the Al Lawson Center.
Akira Burt led the offense with 13 kills on an efficient .500 hitting percentage, while Nazli Guvener added 13 and Maria Cecilia De Pinho tallied 10 to fuel a balanced attack. Marta Lazzarin anchored the defense with a match-high 26 digs, joined by Emily Harden with 10, as Rayne Williams controlled the net with five blocks.
How It Happened
Set 1 | Georgia State set the tone early, scoring the first point and never trailing on the way to a 25-19 win. The Panthers built a six-point advantage at 12-6 and maintained control to close out the opening frame.
Set 2 | Florida A&M evened the match with a 25-19 win in the second. The set was tied three times before the Rattlers pulled away late, turning a 19-19 deadlock into a six-point cushion to secure the frame.
Set 3 | The Panthers regained momentum in the third, rolling to a 25-10 victory and a 2-1 lead in the match. Georgia State scored first and never let up, stretching the lead throughout and closing with their largest margin of the day at 15 points.
Set 4 | Georgia State carried its strong play into the fourth, finishing the match with a 25-14 win. The Panthers once again scored first and stayed in front the entire way, sealing the victory by extending the lead to 11 points down the stretch.
Game Notes
- Three Panthers finished with double-digit kills, led by Akira Burt and Nazli Guvener's team-high 13.
- Emily Harden added a team-best two service aces and dished out a match-high 20 assists.
- Marta Lazzarin anchored the defense with a match-high 26 digs.
- Georgia State controlled play in nearly every frame, never trailing in its 25-19 first-set win, dominant 25-10 third set, and 25-14 clincher in the fourth.
Up Next
The Panthers will stay in Tallahassee until Monday, Sept. 15 for the ACC/SBC Challenge where they will meet FSU on the court at 5 p.m.
