THE BASICS:

Score: Valdosta State 3, Indiana (Pa.) 1 (25-17, 21-25, 25-13, 25-20)
Records: Valdosta State 1-1, Indiana (Pa.) 0-2 
Location: Tampa, Fla. (University of Tampa)

THE LEAD: The Valdosta State volleyball team responded nicely after its opening loss yesterday, with a 3-1 victory over Indiana (Pa.) Friday at the University of Tampa.  VSU improved to 1-1 on the year, while Indiana (Pa.) fell to 0-2.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Set 1): 

• The Blazers broke open a 7-7 score for a 7-0 run and a 14-7 lead, capped by a miscue by the Hawks.
• IUP pulled within 15-10, but VSU responded in kind with another run for a 23-16 lead on a kill from junior Tammy Reyes Perez.
• Junior Rebecca Sills got the set-winning point for a 25-17 victory.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Set 2): 

• VSU began the second set with a 4-0 run, but IUP responded with a 5-0 run for a 9-8 lead and a timeout by the Blazers.
• The teams traded points and VSU held an 18-17 advantage, before the Hawks used a 6-0 run for a 23-18 lead and evened the match with a 25-21 victory.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED (SET 3):

• A big run by the Blazers in the third set of 7-0 broke open a 9-9 score as VSU led 17-9 with a kill from senior Daria Powell. 
• VSU kept the pressure on and went on for a 2-1 set lead after a 25-13 win in the third set.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED (SET 4):

• In a back-and-forth set, VSU took a bit of a lead with a 3-0 spurt for an 11-8 lead and then again for a 14-9 lead.
• IUP used a 4-0 run for a 20-19 deficit as VSU went on for the 25-20 win for its first victory of the season.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• 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.
• Sophomore Jessie Mooney and junior Grace Daughtery each had 11 kills to lead the team, while Mooney had a double-double with 10 digs. 
• Sills led the team with 16 digs in the match, while Reyes Perez had 35 assists. 
• VSU tallied 47 kills for the match in 112 swings, while recording nine blocks.
• IUP hit .142 for the match with 43 kills in 141 swings.  The Hawks hit a set-best .345 in the second set, but hit -.080 in the third set and just .125 in the fourth set. 
• Nicole Peterson had a match-high 16 kills with 11 digs, while Dominica Niccolai added 31 assists. 

 
UP NEXT:

• The Blazers conclude the tournament in Tampa on Saturday as they face a tough stretch with two top five teams nationally.
• VSU battles No. 5 Concordia-St. Paul at 11 a.m. and top-ranked Tampa at 3 p.m.
• Check back with vstateblazers.com for links to live stats and streaming for the matches.