Five years ago, a group of Sandy Panthers anxiously huddled around a phone as the selections for the 2015 AVCA National Tournament were announced. Only eight schools would have the chance to compete for the top title, but the members of the young program had notched an impressive 18-1 record to give themselves their best chance.
As they heard Georgia State's name in the fifth slot, the room erupted with emotion. The team was dancing, hugging, and jumping around. The Sandy Panthers had earned the program's first bid to a national tournament, which solidified the school from downtown Atlanta as a force to be reckoned with in the sand.