ROME, Ga. - The Valdosta State Blazers got off to a roaring start against the Shorter Hawks but fizzled late to suffer a 3-2 (25-14, 25-23, 21-25, 22-25, 11-15) loss in Gulf South Conference action on Saturday afternoon in Rome, Ga.

With a 2-1 set lead and trailing 16-20 in the fourth, Katie McInnis and Tristyn Sells teamed up for a pair of kills to fuel a 4-0 run and tie the frame up at 20-20. Shorter fired back with three straight points, however, and the Blazers were unable to recover from that point forward.

McInnis, Sells, and Chloe Chubilleau each posted double-digit kills on the afternoon, but the Blazer defense had a hard time containing SU's Tiffani Estep, who racked up a game high 16 kills on 29 attempts for a .448 hitting percentage.

Valdosta State fell to 10-14 overall and 5-7 in Gulf South Conference play. Meanwhile, Shorter improved to 14-9 overall and lifte their conference record to 7-4.

The current road trip for Valdosta State will continue next Tuesday in Pensacola, Fla., as the Blazers travel to face the West Florida Argonauts. First serve is slated for 7:00 p.m. EST.