DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The 2018 Valdosta State volleyball season kicked off Friday with a pair of matches in the Embry-Riddle Fall Tournament as the Blazers dropped a 3-1 decision to Lynn, before responding with a thrilling, five set victory over Shaw, 3-2.
 
THE BASICS:

• Score: L, 1-3 vs. Lynn (25-23, 9-25, 22-25, 11-25) / W, 3-2 vs. Shaw (16-25, 25-16, 25-20, 17-25, 15-12)
• Location:Daytona Beach, Fla.
• Event:Embry-Riddle Fall Tournament
• Record:1-1

 
LEADING THE WAY (Double-Digit Statistical Leaders):

• Kills: Chloe' Chubilleau (VSU vs. Lynn, 10) / Sonja Udovcic (Lynn, 21) / Chloe' Chubilleau (VSU vs. Shaw, 10) / Saraya Klink (Shaw, 11)
• Assists: Tammy Reyes-Perez (VSU vs. Lynn, 29) / Isadora Nicolai (Lynn, 57) / Tammy Reyes-Perez (VSU vs. Shaw, 35) / Michelle Olmeda-Gonz (Shaw, 27)
• Digs: Aurora Nero (VSU vs. Lynn, 17) / Anja Van (Lynn, 18) / Chloe' Chubilleau (VSU vs. Shaw, 14) / Michelle Olmeda-Gonz (Shaw, 17)

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Blazers started out fast with a 25-23 win in the first set against Lynn, which saw 11 ties and two lead changes.
• Lynn roared back in the second set for a 25-9 win, while VSU played to a 21-21 tie in the third set, but was unable to hang on and the Fighting Knights won 25-11 in the fourth set.
• Senior Chloe' Chubilleau recorded 10 kills to lead the team with nine digs in the first match.
• Blazer freshman Aurora Nero had 17 digs to lead the team.
• VSU hit .108 for the match, while Lynn hit .331.
• Against Shaw, the Blazers dropped the opening set, 16-25, but came storming back with a 25-16 win in set two and took a 2-1 lead in set three with a 25-20 win. 
• The Bears evened the match in the fourth set with a 25-17 score, but VSU raced out to a 5-1 lead in the deciding set helped out by three early miscues from the Bears.
• The Blazers held a 9-8 lead, but a big kill from freshman Jessica Mooney and another error put VSU up 11-8.  
• Shaw pulled within 13-12, but a key kill from junior Kayla Widera forced match point and a miscue from the Bears ended the match
• First year head coach Kaleigh Zoucha picked up her first win as a collegiate coach.
• VSU hit .116 for the match against Shaw and held the Bears to .096, while forcing Shaw into 31 errors.
• Chubilleau tallied 10 kills and 14 digs to lead the team for her first double-double of the season.

 
UP NEXT: 

• The Blazers continue with two matches tomorrow against Wayne State (Neb.) at 11 a.m. and at host Embry-Riddle at 3 p.m.
• VSU then returns home to host the Holiday Inn VSU Volleyball Fall Classic, Aug. 31-Sept. 1 at The Complex.