JONESBORO, Ark. (9/27/24) – A dominant defense highlighted by a season-high 14 blocks led the Arkansas State volleyball team to a 3-1 win over Georgia State (25-18, 25-11, 20-25, 25-9) Friday inside First National Bank Arena.
In addition to the block party, A-State (11-2, 1-0 SBC) limited the Panthers (9-4, 0-1) to just .049 on the attack. The Red Wolves hit .232 on the night and served eight aces.
Daedrianna Cail was a force at the net, totaling a season-high nine blocks (1 solo) to go along with eight kills. She was one of five A-State players with three or more rejections, joining Grace Wiley (5), Haley Glunz (4), Abby Harris (3) and Kaitlin Whitlock (3). Sarah Martinez (14 digs) led three players in double-digit digs, accompanied by Whitlock and Erin Madigan with 10 each.
On the offensive side, Wiley and Hall had a match-leading 11 kills apiece, with Hall hitting a career-best .409 to go along with her season-high kill total. Whitlock served a match-high three aces, with Madigan and Valeria Ortiz each serving a pair. Madigan also recorded her team-leading sixth double-double of the year with 16 assists and 10 digs. Ortiz also guided the offense well, doling out 18 assists.
A-State overcame a three-point deficit early in the opening set and surged ahead 16-12 following a Wiley kill. The Red Wolves' lead ballooned to as much as 22-15 on a kill by Cail, but the Panthers clawed back to within four. A-State promptly answered that 3-0 run with a set-clinching three-point swing to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
The Red Wolves continued to hit at a blistering rate in the second set, playing error-free on the attack for a .571 clip. A-State never trailed after taking the first three points and ended the frame on a 10-0 run capped by a Cail kill, cruising to the 25-11 set victory to take a two-set advantage.
Georgia State responded in the third set by taking four of the first five points and never trailed to extend the match. A-State hit just .045 as the Panthers clawed back to within a set, winning the frame 25-20.
A-State took early command in the fourth set, owning a quick 5-1 lead that the visitors would never surmount. The Panthers pulled within three but would inch no further as a 6-0 run by the Red Wolves forced a GSU timeout. After a sideout by Georgia State, the Red Wolves rattled off six consecutive points to lead 20-6. The Scarlet and Black continued to maintain momentum, clinching the match on a block by Harris and Cail.
NEXT UP
The Red Wolves conclude opening weekend of conference play on Saturday against Georgia State. First serve inside First National Bank Arena is slated for 1 p.m., and the match will be broadcasted live on ESPN Plus.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow the team on Twitter (@AStateVB) and Instagram (astatevb) along with liking the Arkansas State Red Wolves Volleyball page on Facebook for the latest news and updates regarding the team.
