GSC/SSC Crossover Tournament Central

VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State volleyball team dips out of conference play this weekend as it travels to Orlando, Fla., for the Gulf South Conference/Sunshine State Conference Crossover. The Blazers will face Florida Southern, No. 6 Tampa and Nova Southeastern at the Orlando Sports Center. 
 
The weekend gets underway as the Blazers battle Florida Southern in the first game of the tournament Friday at 12:15 p.m., on Court #1.  VSU then will face No. 6 Tampa at 4:45 p.m. on Friday afternoon on Court #3.  The Blazers then will conclude the tournament Saturday at 2:30 p.m., on Court #4 against Nova Southeastern.
 
This season's crossover will take place at the Orlando Sports Center, located at 6700 Kingspointe Pkwy Orlando, FL 32819.   For the full 2018 South Region Crossover Schedule, click on the link above or on the VSU volleyball schedule page at vstateblazers.com. 
 
Regional crossover events between the Sunshine State Conference and Gulf South Conference have been occurring for well over a decade, with past set-ups including smaller eight-team tournaments between the two conferences, as well as larger events where teams from both conferences were hosted at separate locations based on overall seedings.
 
The current one-of-a-kind event that fans know and love today, with both the SSC and GSC teams all under one roof for a multi-day tournament, kicked off in 2015 when it was held at the Coliseum on the campus of the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Ga.  The multi-day round robin tournament in 2015 was the first of its kind, and featured 22 teams in total - 11 from the GSC, as well the nine members from them SSC plus then-provisional members Palm Beach Atlantic and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  Each team played three matches over the course of two days, with a maximum of four matches being played at one time.
 
VSU is 11-12 overall and 7-4 in Gulf South Conference play under first year head coach Kaleigh Zoucha.  The Blazers split their last two matches on the road with a 3-0 loss at Montevallo and a 3-1 win at Alabama Huntsville last weekend.
 
For the season, VSU is hitting .180 on the year with 963 kills in 2860 swings with 448 errors.  The Blazers have 915 assists with 147 service aces, 1256 digs, 46 solo blocks and 126.5 total blocks.  Nationally speaking, the Blazers are fourth in the GSC and 47^thnationally in aces per set at 1.75, while ranking 35^thnationally and second in the league in total aces with 147.  
 
Individually, senior Chloe' Chubilleau is third in the GSC in aces per set at 0.43, while ranking 33^rdnationally and second in the league in total aces with 36.  She is eighth in the GSC in kills with 220 to lead the team.  Chubilleau leads the team in total attacks with 663 for seventh in the league.  Sophomore setter Tammy Reyes-Perez is third in the GSC in assists per set at 9.61, while leading the conference in total assists with 807 for 50^thnationally. Junior Kayla Widera ranks fourth in the GSC in total blocks with 80 and is fifth in the conference in blocks per set at 0.95.  
 
Senior Lindsey Robinson leads the team in attack percentage at .279 as she is fourth on the team in kills with 143 in 348 attempts.  WIdera has 146 kills, while freshman Jessie Mooney has 176 kills for second on the team.  Junior Dariah Powell has come on as of late and has 104 kills this season.  Freshman Aurora Nero leads the team with 312 digs as she is ninth in the league in digs per set (3.71) and sixth in total digs. 
 
Florida Southern enters with a 14-8 record overall and a 9-5 mark in the Sunshine State Conference. The Mocs have a 3-1 win over then-No. 4 Ferris State earlier this season and are coming off a 3-1 win over Lynn on Saturday.  FSC has gone 3-2 in its last five games after winning five-straight.  FSC will face VSU, No. 12 West Florida and West Georgia this weekend.
 
Tampa is 20-1 overall and 13-0 in conference play and has won 14-straight matches dating back to a 3-2 loss to Drury (Mo.) on Sept. 1.  The Spartans have lost just three sets in their last five matches and have lost just 16 sets all season.  Tampa is scheduled to face VSU, Lee and No. 12 West Florida this weekend.
 
Nova Southeastern is 5-16 overall and 3-11 in conference play and has lost its last three matches. The Sharks will face West Georgia and Lee this weekend, along with VSU.
 
Check back with vstateblazers.com for complete recaps and stats of each match. Click on the link at the top of the page for the Tournament Central for the GSC/SSC Crossover.
 
Following the tournament, VSU will return home for its final homestand of the regular season with four matches in seven days, beginning Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m., versus Auburn Montgomery at The Complex.