THE BASICS:
Score: Valdosta State 3, Albany State 0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-22)
Records: Valdosta State 5-4, Albany State 2-5

THE LEAD: Behind the second largest crowd in Valdosta State Blazer volleyball history, the Blazers posted a 3-0 victory over visiting Albany State in the 2019 home-opener Tuesday evening.  With a large student contingent, the Blazer faithful was loud throughout the match.
 
FIRST SET: 

• Albany State jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first set, but announced crowd of 401 helped the red and black battle back, as junior Brandi McGee had six-straight serves for a 6-5 lead for the Blazers.
• ASU built the lead to 14-11 capped on a miscue by the Blazers and a timeout by VSU.
• Following the timeout, the Golden Rams pushed the lead to 16-12, but VSU junior Rebecca Sills served 12-straight points for a 24-17 VSU lead and a kill from reigning Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Week senior Kayla Widera gave VSU the first set victory.

 
SECOND SET: 

• VSU used another long service from Sills in the second set as she had six-straight services for a 16-10 lead and then later sophomore Jessie Mooney had five-straight serves for a 22-13 lead.  
• Widera served the final two points with a pair of kills from junior Tammy Reyes Perez and freshman Kennedy DeLuca for a 25-13 victory.
• After leading 9-8, VSU closed the set on a 15-5 run for the 2-0 lead.

 
THIRD SET: 

• In the third set, the Blazers got off to a 12-5 start as freshman Katie Demo and Mooney each had lengthy serves in the early going.
• Demo and Sills pushed the lead to 20-13 on six-straight VSU services, but ASU's Jordyn Terrell responded with five-straight serves, pulling ASU within 21-17.  
• Later, Tomiah Jones pulled the Golden Rams within 23-21, but a kill from Mooney and then an error by the Golden Rams ended the match.  

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• VSU hit .250 for the match with 43 kills in 128 swings, while junior Grace Daugherty had a team-high 10 kills.  Reyes Perez added 29 assists, while junior Rebecca Sills came up with a game-high 18 digs.
• The Blazers had their best hitting set in the second set as they hit .389 with 17 kills and just three miscues. 
• Albany State hit .144 with 34 kills in 125 swings as the Golden Rams were led by nine kills from Jannai Cheeks and 13 digs from Jolesia McClenton.  
• ASU held a 5-1 lead in blocks.

 
UP NEXT:

• The Blazers return to the road at the USC Aiken Tournament in Aiken, S.C., this weekend and then will open the 2019 Gulf South Conference slate next Tuesday at Shorter.
• VSU then returns home to host Lee and West Georgia on Sept. 27-28 at The Complex.