HOOVER, Ala. – In the final match of the first day of the 2019 Gulf South Conference/Sunshine State Conference Crossover, the Valdosta State volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to Palm Beach Atlantic as the Blazers fell to 11-11 on the year.
 
Palm Beach Atlantic (11-7) won the first set, 25-21 and won the second set in the highest scoring set of the season for the Blazers, 30-28, while taking the third set 25-16.  Sophomore Jessie Mooney paced the Blazers with a team-high 11 kills, while senior Kayla Widera added seven kills in the match and five blocks and one solo rejection.  Senior Dariah Powell had a match-high 16 digs.
 
In the first set, an ace from junior Tammy Reyes Perez pulled the Blazers within 14-12, but the Sailfish scored four of the next five points for an 18-13 lead.  VSU fought back to within 21-20 and a timeout by PBA.  A kill from Jazz Schmidt ended the set at 25-21.
 
The second set saw the teams battle to a tight frame as a miscue by Amber Rowoldt tied the set at 22.  The teams traded points and VSU took a 26-25 lead, but a kill by PBU tied the set, once again.  VSU took the advantage 28-27 on a kill from Widera, but Schmidt had the answer again.  Caroline Swan ended the set with a pair of kills for the 30-28 win.
 
A 7-0 run by the Sailfish gave PBA a 13-7 lead in the third set, but the red and black kept battling and pulled within 16-14 on a kill from Widera. PBA quickly pushed the lead out with three-straight points for a 19-14 lead and closed the match on an 11-2 run from the 16-14 score. 
 
The Blazers finished the match with 31 kills, but committed 21 errors for a .089 attack percentage for the match.  Palm Beach Atlantic had 42 kills and also committed 21 miscues and hit .175.  The Blazers hit .000 in the first set, but found their footing in the second, hitting .205 with 15 kills in the middle stanza.
 
VSU concludes the crossover Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET versus Lynn.  Lynn (13-4) lost in a five-setter to Alabama Huntsville Friday, 3-2, and will play two matches Saturday against VSU and West Georgia.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for complete results of the match Saturday.