ROME, Ga. – In their first road Gulf South Conference matchup of the season, the Valdosta State volleyball team traded momentum throughout, but ultimately outlasted the Shorter Hawks for a 3-1 (26-24, 15-25, 25-22, 25-20) Gulf South Conference win.
 
Valdosta State remained perfect with the win, improving to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in league action. Meanwhile, the Hawks dropped to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in conference play.
 
The Hawks opened up the first frame with a 9-5 run, but the Blazers scored five straight to tie the contest up at 9-9. From that point forward, neither team led by more than four points for the remainder of the set. The Blazers took a 24-22 lead late with a kill from Jessica Codato and an attack error by SU's Madeline Munroe. The Hawks answered with two points of their own to knot the score up at 24-24, but the Blazers used a kill by freshman Ashley Miller and an attack error by Elizabeth Dowd to take the early match lead.
 
Shorter jumped out to another early lead in set number two and never allowed the Blazers to recover, as they claimed a 25-15 win and evened up the match at 1-1.
 
Although the Hawks remained close, The Blazers led throughout most of the third and fourth sets and distanced themselves just enough to claim a narrow 25-22 triumph in set three and a 25-20 win in the fourth and final frame.
 
Susanna Peonia delivered another standout effort in the middle for Valdosta State, leading the way with 16 kills in 31 attempts (.387) and four blocks on the night. Senior Jaklen also bolstered the attack for the Blazers with a double-double that included 13 kills and 11 digs.
 
Conference action continues for Valdosta State tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. with a showdown against the Lee Flames in Cleveland, Tenn.