The stage is set in Atlanta for a Sun Belt Conference volleyball showdown as the Georgia State Panthers welcome the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers for a pivotal two-match series at the GSU Sports Arena on October 9 and 10, both matches slated for 6 p.m. ET and available on ESPN+. It’s not just another series for these teams—this is a clash of streaks, stats, and rising stars, with Georgia State seeking a historic breakthrough against a Coastal Carolina squad that’s proven nearly untouchable in conference play.
Georgia State comes into the series with a 10-5 overall record and 1-3 in the Sun Belt Conference, hoping to snap a two-match losing streak. Their last outings saw them swept by James Madison, but the Panthers have shown resilience all season, especially at home, where they boast a 6-2 record. The series opener also marks Georgia State’s annual Pink Out match in support of breast cancer awareness, adding extra emotion to an already charged atmosphere.
The history between these programs is as lopsided as they come. Coastal Carolina has dominated the matchup, winning the last 21 contests and holding a 23-3 all-time advantage over the Panthers. In Sun Belt play, the Chanticleers are an unblemished 19-0 against Georgia State, and the last time the Panthers managed a win was way back in 2002—also in Atlanta. Their most recent meeting, on October 12, 2024, was a nail-biter that went five sets before Coastal Carolina edged out the victory.
The stakes are high for Coastal Carolina, who enter the week with an 11-4 overall record, a perfect 4-0 mark in conference play, and a four-match winning streak. The Chanticleers are aiming to start 5-0 in Sun Belt action for the eighth time in ten years and, should they win the opener, 6-0 for the fifth time. They’ve been tested outside the league as well, notching a 3-2 win over Maryland, a 3-1 victory against NC State, and going the distance with South Carolina. All told, this is a team that’s as battle-tested as they come.
What makes Coastal Carolina so tough? Defense, blocking, and a pair of standout juniors. The Chants lead the Sun Belt in blocks per set (2.76) and total blocks (138), ranking 10th and 19th nationally, respectively. Junior middle blocker Anna Rita is a force at the net, leading the conference with 88 total blocks and 1.57 blocks per set—numbers that place her in the top ten nationally. On the attacking end, junior outside hitter Jalyn Stout is rewriting the NCAA record books. Stout, recently added to the AVCA Division I Player of the Year watch list, became the NCAA’s all-time triple-double leader on September 26 with her 40th career triple-double and has already racked up 42 in her career, including eight this season. She’s the engine of Coastal’s offense, leading the team in kills (193), kills per set (3.45), and ranking second in assists (4.00) and digs (3.34) per set.
Stout’s performance has been nothing short of electric. In their last outing against Old Dominion, she posted her 42nd career triple-double with 13 kills, 16 assists, and 13 digs, while teammate Ava Wallis notched her eighth double-double of the year. The Chants set a school record with 73 digs in one match and limited Old Dominion to a .082 hitting percentage—showcasing their defensive prowess. Emily Fowler and Anna Rita also rank among the Sun Belt’s top hitters, with Fowler third in hitting percentage at .380 and Rita eighth at .345. Bailee Earnhardt, meanwhile, is on the cusp of her second 200-dig season, adding yet another layer to Coastal’s defensive depth.
But Georgia State isn’t just here to play spoiler. The Panthers have enjoyed their best start to a season since 2003, winning seven of their first eight matches and showing flashes of brilliance on both sides of the ball. Head Coach Flavia Siqueira, now in her second season, has elevated the program, guiding them to 17 wins in 2024—the most in over a decade—and a second-round appearance in last year’s Sun Belt Tournament.
The Panthers’ roster is a blend of international flair and homegrown grit, with eight of 17 players hailing from overseas. Key contributors include freshman libero Marta Lazzarin, who has been a revelation on the back row. Lazzarin has earned national attention, ranking fifth nationally and first in the Sun Belt with 5.41 digs per set, and amassing 303 total digs (15th in the NCAA). Her consistency has anchored a Georgia State defense that ranks second in the conference in opponent hitting percentage at .155 and third in digs per set (16.68).
Offensively, Nazli Guvener leads with 146 kills (2.61 per set), followed closely by Maria Cecilla de Pinho at 2.55 kills per set. Setter Shanelle Martinez has been a steady presence, while Myllena Torquetti provides muscle at the net, averaging 1.05 blocks per set (eighth in the Sun Belt). Four Panthers have recorded multiple double-doubles this season, highlighting the team’s versatility—Guvener leads with three, including a season-high 18 kills and 12 digs against Furman.
Georgia State ranks among the Sun Belt’s best in several categories: second in opponent hitting percentage (.155), third in kills per set (13.46) and digs per set (16.68), and fourth in total digs (784) and assists per set (12.49). These numbers underscore a team that’s tough to break down and capable of putting up points in bunches.
Both squads enter the series with something to prove. Coastal Carolina wants to extend its Sun Belt dominance and keep its streak alive, while Georgia State is desperate to finally break through and claim their first-ever win over the Chants. There’s an added layer of intrigue, too, as both teams are among the nine Sun Belt programs with winning records in their last ten matches—Coastal at 8-2, Georgia State at 6-4.
The wider Sun Belt landscape only adds to the drama. The conference is riding high, ranked seventh overall in conference RPI, with Appalachian State, Arkansas State, and James Madison leading the way. Coastal Carolina sits at No. 100 in the latest RPI rankings, while Georgia State is close behind at No. 140. The league’s defensive pedigree is on full display, with six teams ranked in the top 80 nationally for digs per set and four in the top 80 for blocks per set.
As the Panthers and Chanticleers prepare to clash, fans can expect a hard-fought, high-energy series. Will Georgia State finally snap the streak and make history on their home court, or will Coastal Carolina’s blend of experience, defense, and star power prove too much once again? Volleyball fans will be glued to their screens as the action unfolds in Atlanta—one thing’s for sure, this Sun Belt showdown is set to deliver plenty of fireworks.
With both teams boasting standout performers and high stakes, the eyes of the Sun Belt Conference—and beyond—are fixed on Atlanta. The outcome remains up in the air, but the anticipation is palpable as Georgia State and Coastal Carolina battle for supremacy in one of the league’s most intriguing matchups of the season.
