JONESBORO, Ark. (9/23/22) – Down two sets to none, the Arkansas State volleyball team did not fade away, extending the match and forcing a fifth set, but dropped a hard-fought 3-2 decision to Georgia Southern Friday night inside First National Bank Arena.
The Red Wolves (5-8, 0-1 SBC) held the Eagles (9-4, 1-0) to sub-.150 hitting percentages in the third and fourth en route to sending the contest to the fifth, but Georgia Southern closed with three-straight points to take the match.
Macey Putt led A-State offensively with 16 kills while tallying 11 digs for her fourth double-double of the year. She also served two aces on the night. Kyla Wiersema registered 14 kills and hit at a .306 clip, while also knocking down three blocks (2 solo). Ilayda Dincer tallied a dozen kills, with Elise Wilcox adding 11 from the right side.
Kassidy Reeves helped guide the Scarlet and Black's attack with 38 assists. The Argyle, Texas, native was also effective in defense, corralling 12 digs and knocking down a pair of blocks.
Defensively, Sarah Martinez led all players with 20 digs while Bailey Helzer added 15. Martinez also led the match with three of A-State's seven service aces.
SET 1 – GEORGIA SOUTHERN 25, A-STATE 19
The opening set the tone for how back-and-forth the match would flow, featuring 11 ties and six lead changes. After Georgia Southern took an early 10-7 lead, A-State sided out to spark a 3-0 run to tie it at 10-all. The Eagles later worked their lead back out to three at 20-17 before the Red Wolves clawed back to within a point. Georgia Southern would hold off Arkansas State for the final five points of the set to hold a 1-0 lead in the match.
SET 2 – GEORGIA SOUTHERN 25, A-STATE 17
The Eagles surged out of the gate in the second set, leading by as much as 10 early before A-State battled back to trim the deficit to four late at 20-16. Georgia Southern then pushed its lead back out to 23-16 with a 3-0 spurt and forced a timeout. A-State sided out on a Yazmyn Billings kill before the Eagles took a two-set lead after an ace to end the set.
SET 3 – A-STATE 25, GEORGIA SOUTHERN 15
Arkansas State did not falter with its back against the wall in the third and completely controlled the third set. The Red Wolves pushed an early 7-4 lead out to 13-6 on a kill by Putt. A-State's lead ballooned to 22-9 on a Dincer kill before Georgia Southern cut it to 22-12. The Eagles saved a set point to make it 24-15 before Wilcox extended the match with a thunderous left-handed kill.
SET 4 – A-STATE 25, GEORGIA SOUTHERN 21
A-State's defense continued to reign in the fourth set, holding Georgia Southern to a .114 mark. It was also key in the Red Wolves' rally from down by four early in the frame. A Wiersema kill knotted up the score at 12-all before A-State took the lead for good on another kill by the freshman middle blocker. The Eagles worked the deficit down to 21-19 late, but Arkansas State sent the match into a decisive fifth set by taking five of the last six points, capped by another Wilcox winner.
SET 5 – GEORGIA SOUTHERN 15, A-STATE 12
The Red Wolves kept early momentum in the fifth set before a 3-0 run put Georgia Southern ahead 9-7. A-State battled back to lead 11-10 after a solo block by Reeves, which forced an Eagles timeout. Georgia Southern reclaimed a 12-11 edge before the Red Wolves tied it again, but the visitors would take the final three points in the set to escape with the nail-biting win.
NEXT UP
A-State closes out its first weekend of conference action Saturday against the Eagles. First serve inside First National Bank Arena is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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