VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State volleyball team, fresh off a pair of huge wins last weekend at home, continues its five-match homestand this weekend as Christian Brothers and Union visit The Complex.  VSU then concludes the homestand Tuesday at 6 p.m. in a non-conference match against Georgia College.
 
The Blazers host Christian Brothers at 7 p.m. Friday evening, followed by a 7 p.m. start against Union on Saturday in a pair of Gulf South Conference matches. Blazer fans who bring their Delta State football ticket stub to the volleyball match Saturday evening will be admitted free.  Links to video streaming, live stats, ticket information and more are available on the volleyball schedule page at vstateblazers.com.
 
Last weekend, the Blazers held off a pesky Mississippi College squad for a 3-2 win on Friday and then jumped on top of West Alabama, only to see the Tigers roar back on Saturday.  Against UWA, VSU trailed 18-8 in the fourth set with a 2-1 set lead.  The Blazers dug deep and rallied for a thrilling 26-24 win in the set and the match, 3-1.  It marked the first time this season VSU had swept a conference weekend series.  
 
The Blazers 8-11 (4-3 GSC) had junior Kayla Widera earn GSC Defensive Player of the Week honors as she hit .333 with 18 kills and five errors in 39 swings, while recording two aces. She had five digs and recorded eight total blocks with six solo rejections to lead the team.  
 
Widera has 66 total blocks with 23 solo as she ranks fifth in the GSC in blocks per game (0.94) and third in total blocks.  She has 43 digs on the year, while hitting .199 with 118 kills for third on the team in 327 swings.  She has 15 aces on the year.
 
It was Widera's first weekly honor of the season as freshman Jessie Mooney earned Freshman of the Week honors earlier this season.  It marked Widera's first GSC Player of the Week honor of her career.
 
This season, VSU is hitting .172 with 778 kills in 2355 swings.  The Blazers have 374 errors on the year, while recording 746 assists. VSU is averaging 11.1 kills per set.  The Blazers have 1043 digs (14.9 d/s) and 104.5 total blocks with 40 solo rejections.  
 
Individually, senior Chloe' Chubilleau leads the team with 185 kills on 563 swings and has a .137 average.  She has 33 service aces to lead the team, while recording 176 digs for second on the team.  Mooney is second in kills with 162 in 502 swings, while recording a .165 average. She has 14 aces with 113 digs and 14 total blocks.  Widera is third on the team in kills with 118 as she has a .119 average, while recording 43 digs and leads the team with 66 blocks and 23 solo.  Freshman Aurora Nero leads the team with 270 digs, while sophomore Tammy Reyes-Perez leads the team with 655 assists.  
 
Nationally speaking, the Blazers are 23^rdnationally and second in the GSC with 127 aces, while the team is fourth in the GSC in aces per set at 1.81 for 36^thnationally.  Chubilleau is third in the GSC in aces per set at 0.47, while ranking 16^thnationally and first in the league in total aces with 33.  She is 41^stnationally and first in the league in assists with 655.  Widera is third in the league in total blocks with 66.
 
Christian Brothers plays at West Georgia Thursday evening before heading to Valdosta for Friday's match.  CBU enters the week with an 8-11 record overall and a 2-5 mark in league play.  CBU had dropped its last two matches and five of seven. The Bucs lost last week in five sets to Shorter and in three sets to Lee, both on the road as the team is in the midst of a four-match road trip.
 
Union will play at West Georgia on Friday, before heading South to Valdosta for Saturday's match. The Bulldogs are 4-16 on the year and 1-6 in the GSC.  Union has lost its last three matches and lost eight of nine, with the lone win being a 3-2 victory over Mississippi College on the road.  
 
Tuesday, the Blazers welcome Georgia College to town for a 6 p.m. match.  GCSU will host USC Aiken and Lander, prior to visiting Valdosta State.  The Bobcats are 9-7 on the year and 2-2 in the Peach Belt Conference.
 
Check back with vstateblazers.com for complete recaps and stats following each match.