ROME, Ga. | Georgia College & State University volleyball erased a 13-point deficit and nearly closed out the match in the fourth set before falling to Shorter University 3-2 Tuesday (Oct. 6) in a five-set battle at the Winthrop-King Centre.
The Bobcats moved to 4-16 overall and remained 1-4 in Peach Belt Conference play, while the Hawks improved to 8-10 overall and 5-4 in Conference Carolinas play.
GCSU opened the match with a 25-23 victory before Shorter answered with a 25-23 win in the second. The Bobcats regained the advantage in the third, taking another tightly contested set 25-22 to move within one set of securing the match.
Shorter jumped out to a 17-4 advantage in the fourth, but GCSU refused to go away. The Bobcats chipped away at the deficit before putting together a late surge that brought them within three at 23-20. Nya Warren then delivered three kills during the closing stretch as GCSU pulled even at 23-23 and took its first lead of the set at 24-23.
Shorter responded to tie the set at 24 before the teams traded points again at 25-25. The Hawks claimed the next two points to escape with a 27-25 victory and force a deciding fifth set.
Shorter carried the momentum into the fifth and took the set 15-12 to secure the match.
Avery Huyck led the Bobcats offensively with 16 kills, followed by Kendra Leboehi with 10 and Macie Arrington with nine. Miki Parrott dished out 20 assists, while Ile Bernis added 13 and Sadie Parkerson recorded nine.
Emersyn Mullvain led GCSU at the net with six blocks, followed by Warren with four and Huyck with two. Huyck also led the defensive effort with 19 digs, while Haley Mendoza collected 15 and Sofia Muino added 10.
The Bobcats return to Peach Belt Conference play Friday (Oct. 9) against Augusta University at 6 p.m.
About GCSU Athletics
Owning the top Academic Success Rate among all public colleges and universities in Division II for five consecutive academic years, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 13 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GCSU Athletics has won six consecutive Presidents' Awards for Academic Excellence, and are two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup and six-time winners of the PBC Institution of the Year Sportsmanship Award. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' continued appearances in postseason competition as well as high-level academic success and community-service involvement. Bobcat Athletics embodies the mantra of "Graduating Champions for Life." Sign up at @GCSUBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports or subscribe to the GSCU Athletics e-newsletter to receive the latest news, schedule updates and to interact with GCSU Athletics.
