VALDOSTA, Ga.- The Valdosta State Blazer volleyball team kicks off its second road trip of the season as it travels to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for four games this weekend, facing Nova Southeastern, Florida Tech, Belmont Abbey and Southern New Hampshire.
 
Fans can access links to live stats and streaming of the contests on vstateblazers.com on the volleyball schedule page.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for complete recaps and results of each match.
 
This weekend's opposition also will be a good test for the Blazers.  The host, Nova Southeastern Sharks, begin the weekend for VSU at 2 p.m. Friday afternoon.  VSU downed the Sharks last year during the Gulf South and Sunshine State Regional Crossover Tournament, winning in a five-set thriller, 3-2. The team battled back from a 2-1 deficit by starting a seven-point rally to take the fourth set 25-18, to force the decisive fifth set. The Sharks took a 10-9 lead, but VSU rattled off the final six points for a 15-10 win.
 
The Blazers will then face Florida Tech, immediately following the matchup with NSU to conclude the first day.  VSU will play another doubleheader on Saturday as it battles Belmont Abbey at 9:30 a.m. and Southern New Hampshire at 12 p.m.
 
The Blazers head to South Florida after last weekend, where VSU face three top-25 teams including defending national champion Tampa, No. 5 Concordia-St. Paul and No. 17 Central Missouri.  VSU went 1-3 for the weekend and played against some of the best competition in the country in the first four matches of the season.
 
VSU downed Indiana (Pa.) last weekend for its first win of the season as senior Dariah Powell impressed last weekend for the Blazers both offensively and defensively. The senior tallied 32 kills on 97 swings, while leading the team with nine blocks and 27 digs.  Junior setter Tammy Reyes Perez was also a key contributor for the Blazers with 31 digs, four blocks and 110 assists. The Blazers hit .295 for the match and had a match-high .333 average in the third set, while recording 12 kills in each of the first three sets and 11 in the fourth. It was one of the best offensive showings the Blazers had all weekend. Sophomore Jessie Mooney and junior Grace Daughtery each had 11 kills to lead the team, while Mooney had a double-double with 10 digs.
 
Valdosta State will look to gain momentum as it opens the 2019 home season Tuesday, September 17, against Albany State at 6 p.m.  To purchase tickets for Blazer home events, call 229-333-SEAT (7328) or check the Tickets tab at vstateblazers.com.