THE BASICS:
Score: Valdosta State 3, Nova Southeastern 2 (25-20, 17-25, 20-25, 25-18, 15-10)
Records:  Valdosta State 12-14, Nova Southeastern 5-19
Location: Orlando, Fla. (Orlando Sports Center)
THE LEAD:  The Valdosta State volleyball team battled back from a 2-1 deficit for a thrilling 3-2 win over Nova Southeastern Saturday afternoon in the final match for the Blazers in the Gulf South Conference/Sunshine State Conference Regional Crossover.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Blazers scored five-straight points for a 12-6 lead early in the first set, but NSU battled back to a 20-19 deficit.
• An attack error on the Sharks and an ace by the Blazers pushed the lead to 22-19 and two kills from the Blazers, along with an attack error on NSU gave VSU a 25-20 win for the first set.
• NSU took a 10-9 lead in the second set on a miscue by the Blazers as the Sharks built the lead to five, but the Blazers battled back to a 19-16 deficit.  From there, NSU outscored VSU 6-1 to even the match at 1-1, with a 25-17 win in the second set.
• The Sharks broke an 8-8 tie with six-straight points for a 14-8 lead in the third set.
• A mini-rally by the Blazers pulled within 18-15, but NSU stretched the lead to 21-17.  From there, VSU scored three straight points helped out by two miscues by the Sharks for a 21-20 deficit.  NSU then scored the next four points for a 25-20 win.
• VSU rattled off a match-high eight-straight points for an 11-4 lead in the fourth set.  NSU returned the favor with a seven-point spurt to pull within 17-16. 
• With the set tied at 18, VSU mounted a seven-point rally to take the fourth set 25-18 to force the decisive fifth set.
• A five-point spurt by the Sharks put NSU up 8-7 midway through the fifth set, but a kill from senior Chloe' Chubilleau tied the set at eight.  Chubilleau then tied the set a nine with another kill. 
• NSU took a 10-9 lead, but VSU rattled off the final six points for a 15-10 win.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• For the match, VSU hit .219 with 58 kills in 160 swings, while NSU hit .164 with 55 kills in 165 attacks. 
• Junior Kayla Widera paced the Blazers with 14 kills and recorded one block and seven block assists.  Chubilleau also had 14 kills. 
• Junior Katie McInnis had a team-high 16 digs, while sophomore Tammy Reyes-Perez recorded 48 assists.
• NSU's Kim Blasko had 17 kills, while Maya Patterson had a double-double with 13 kills and 12 digs.  Megan Burns had a match-high 29 digs.

 
UP NEXT:

• The Blazers return home to host three matches next week, beginning with Auburn Montgomery on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at The Complex. 
• VSU then will host the makeup match versus Georgia College Thursday at 6 p.m. and close the week with West Georgia Saturday at 1 p.m.