FLORENCE, Ala.- The Valdosta State volleyball team closed out their regular season with a three-set (24-26, 25-13, 25-17) Gulf South Conference loss against the Lions of North Alabama on Saturday afternoon in Huntsville, Ala.

With the defeat, the Blazers dropped to 13-17 overall and 9-11 in conference play. Meanwhile, the Lions advanced their overall team record to 26-5 and 16-4 in GSC action.

The two teams traded out points throughout the first set where the largest lead was only by a two point margin. Valdosta State took the upper hand late in the first set, 24-23, over the Lions. Two kills from North Alabama, however, and an attack error by the Blazers allowed the Lions to clinch the first frame, 26-24.

North Alabama used a nine point run in set two, which included four kills from Peyton Lang to break out to 9-17 lead. Costly errors and a breakdown on defense allowed the Lions to capitalize on offense and eventually capture the victory, 25-13, to take a 2-0 lead in the contest.

In the third, North Alabama recorded four errors in a row and Natalia Campos followed with a service ace to give VSU a five-point advantage. North Alabama overcame the deficit yet again, however, and brushed off back-to-back kills by Susanna Peonia and Antia Rodriguez-Sanchez to seal the set with a 25-17 triumph in the final frame.

For Valdosta State, Peonia and Rodriguez-Sanchez led the offense with eight and seven kills, respectively. Sara Dandridge collected 21 assists and Campos picked up 10 digs to lead the defense.
Meanwhile, the Lions were led by Natasha Fomina and Lang with 14 and 13 kills, respectively.

Despite the loss, Valdosta State received news on Saturday that they had clinched a spot as the No. 6 seed in the Gulf South Conference Tournament. As a result, the Blazers will travel back to Florence, Ala. on Tuesday to once again face North Alabama in the opening round of postseason play. Full coverage of the event can be found right here at www.vstateblazers.com.