Georgia State volleyball prepares for University of Louisiana

Release from Georgia State Athletics:

ATLANTA – The Georgia State volleyball team will battle with two opponents this weekend, beginning with a Friday night home match against UL Lafayette. The 6 p.m. meeting in the Sports Arena will be the team’s annual Breast Cancer Awareness Match.

“We went five with them [ULL] last time and they have a very balanced attack and involve a lot of players. We’re playing better as a team lately. Our win against Texas State came because we controlled the passing and serving and we want to repeat that performance at home on Friday,” coach Sally Polhamus said.

The Panthers are led by juniors Eliza Zachary, Deidra Bohannon, and Natalia Nieto. Zachary leads the team in blocks with 39 and is second on the team, behind Bohannon (268), in points at 252. Nieto sets the offense and is climbing GSU’s record books in career assists. Nieto’s 45 assists last match gave her 2,187 in her career to bring her within six assists of sixth place.

The second match of the week is a visit to Troy, Ala. As the Panthers face the Troy Trojans at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday. Troy is currently on an 11-match losing streak, but Polhamus is stressing to her team the importance of treating this match like any other.

“Troy is just two points from several W’s. They’re a very dangerous team and they’re playing great volleyball right now,” Polhamus said. Troy has won a set in each of its last four losses and went to five sets in two of those four.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Panthers will be doing their part to raise awareness through the pink game, in which players and coaches will be donning pink ribbons, socks, and/or sweatbands.

“Every one of our players in some way has been effected by cancer. This is a great opportunity for us to do our part in raising awareness, encouraging donations and everything we can do to help the cause,” Polhamus said.