DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The 2018 Valdosta State volleyball dropped a pair of matches in the final two games of the Embry-Riddle Fall Tournament Saturday in Daytona Beach, Fla.  Wayne State College (Neb.) won the first match 3-0 and the host Eagles downed VSU 3-0 in the second match.
 
THE BASICS:

• Score: L, 3-0 vs. Wayne State (15-25, 18-25, 17-25) / L, 3-0 at Embry-Riddle (14-25, 19-25, 11-25)
• Location: Daytona Beach, Fla.
• Event: Embry-Riddle Fall Tournament
• Record: 1-3

 
LEADING THE WAY (Double-Digit Statistical Leaders):

• Kills: Kayla Widera (VSU vs. Wayne State, 8) / Alyssa Ballenger (Wayne State, 11) / Jessie Mooney (VSU vs. Embry-Riddle, 6) / Theresa Jordan (Embry-Riddle, 10)
• Assists: Tammy Reyes-Perez (VSU vs. Wayne State, 28) / Megan Gebhardt (WSC, 33) / Tammy Reyes-Perez (VSU vs. Embry-Riddle, 15) / Alyssa Rudd (Embry-Riddle, 29)
• Digs: Aurora Nero (VSU vs. Wayne State, 14) / Katie Stephens (Wayne State, 11) / Aurora Nero (VSU vs. Embry-Riddle, 8) / Oliva Roa (Embry-Riddle, 10)

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wayne State scored nine of the first 11 points in the first set and used a 7-0 spurt for the quick advantage.
• The Blazers pulled within 15-9, but the Wildcats quickly pushed the lead to 20-12 en route to a 25-15 win.
• Widera had a kill ending a 3-0 spurt by the Wildcats for a 16-14 deficit, but WSC scored nine of the final 13 points for a 25-18 win.  
• WSC used a number of quick scoring runs in the third set for a 25-17 win to take the match.
• VSU hit .078 for the match with 31 kills, but committed 22 errors, while WSC hit .284 with 38 kills and just 11 miscues.  
• Against Embry-Riddle, the Blazers struggled as the team hit -.065 for the match with 19 kills and 25 errors on 92 swings.  
• VSU freshman Jessie Mooney registered six kills in the match to lead the team.
• Embry-Riddle hit .313 as a team with 36 kills, 11 errors and 80 swings, while holding an 11-1 lead in blocks.

 
UP NEXT: 

• VSU returns home to host the Holiday Inn VSU Volleyball Fall Classic, Aug. 31-Sept. 1 at The Complex.