THE BASICS:
Score: #6 Tampa 3, Valdosta State 1 (26-28, 13-25, 25-23, 23-25)
Records:  Valdosta State 11-14, No. 6 Tampa 21-1
Location: Orlando, Fla. (Orlando Sports Center)
THE LEAD:  The Valdosta State volleyball team battled back from a 2-0 deficit to win the third set, before falling 25-23 in the fourth set against No. 6 Tampa Friday afternoon in the Gulf South Conference/Sunshine State Conference Regional Crossover.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• In a fantastic first set, the Spartans had the early lead at 13-8, but the upset-minded Blazers battled back with an 8-3 run to tie the set at 16 on a kill by senior Chloe' Chubilleau. 
• The Blazers took their first lead of the set at on an attack error by Tampa and extended the lead to 20-17 on an ace from Chubilleau. 
• VSU led 21-18 on a kill by junior Kayla Widera, but the Spartans tied the set twice at 22 and 23, before taking a 24-23 lead on a kill from Taylor Foster. 
• The Blazers answered and took the lead at 26-25 for set point, but a pair of errors on the Blazers gave Tampa the 28-26 win.
• The Spartans blew open the second set using an 11-3 run for a 25-13 win.
• VSU responded nicely in the third set as the Blazers jumped out to a 5-0 lead, only to see the Spartans equalize the set with five-straight points. 
• Tied 18-18, VSU dug deep and rattled off four-straight with three miscues by Tampa and a kill from freshman Jessie Mooney for a 22-18 lead.
• Leading 24-20, Tamp erased three set points, but senior Lindsey Robinson tallied the set-winning kill for a 25-23 win.
• The fourth set both teams matched each other's strong play, just like in the third set.
• Tampa led for much of the set, but the Blazers led 11-10, before the Spartans regained the lead. 
• VSU tied the set at 19 on a kill by Mooney, but Tampa swelled the lead to 22-19, before a kill from junior Katie McInnis pulled the Blazers within two at 22-20.
• McInnis pulled VSU within 23-22 on a kill and block error by the Spartans, but Sorrel Houghton registered a kill for match point.
• Chubilleau answered with a kill, but Tampa tallied the winning kill for a 25-23 win.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• VSU hit .156 for the match with 44 kills in 135 attempts, while Tampa hit .268 with 59 kills in 142 swings.
• Three Blazers had double-digit kills in the match, led by 13 from Mooney, 12 from McInnis and 10 from Chubilleau. 
• Sophomore Tammy Reyes-Perez tallied 38 assists with a season-high 17 digs.  Junior Dariah Powell added 13 digs.
• Tampa was led by 21 kills from Houghton, while Melssa Elias and Nicole Dominguez each had 14 digs.

 
 
UP NEXT:

• The Blazers conclude the tournament Saturday at 2:30 p.m. versus Nova Southeastern, before returning home for a four-match home stand beginning Tuesday at The Complex versus Auburn Montgomery.
• Check back with vstateblazers.com for links to live stats of Saturday's match and a complete recap and stats following the match.