VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State volleyball team returns home to Gulf South Conference play Friday evening as it welcomes West Alabama to The Complex at 6 p.m.
 
Coming off three matches in the last five days, VSU went 1-2 as it downed Lee in a thrilling, 3-2 home match, dropped a 3-0 decision to Shorter and lost 3-1 at Lee.  The Blazers are 9-11 overall and 2-5 in Gulf South Conference play.
 
West Alabama enters the week with a 1-12 record overall and 1-6 mark in GSC play. Last week, the Tigers went 1-1 as they fell to Christian Brothers (3-0), but defeated Mississippi College (3-0).
 
This matchup is the first matchup between the Blazers and the Tigers since Nov. 15, 2019, when VSU took the match 3-0.  The Blazers lead the all-time series with UWA 28-22 and won the last meeting on Nov. 15, 2019, with a 3-0 victory in Valdosta.  UWA has won four of the last seven matches, following the Blazers winning ten-straight from Nov. 11, 2011 to Sept. 16, 2016.  In the last 11 home matches, VSU owns a 9-2 record.
 
Blazer freshman Jojo Smith earned GSC Freshman of the Week award for the third time this week as she had another stellar week, totaling 41 kills for a 3.73 kills per set and a .164 hitting percentage.  A total of 24 kills were during win over Lee, as Smith hit a .234 and tallied 8 digs, two block assists, and one service ace. The Jefferson, Ga., native, also recorded 16 digs, four block assists, and three service aces for the week.  For the season, Smith has recorded 118 kills while hitting a .159, 63 digs, eight service aces, 12 block assists, three solo blocks, and has scored 135.0 points.
 
VSU is third in the GSC in total digs with 1,232 for 20th nationally, while it is 13th nationally in attacks and second in the league with 2,771 this season.  Individually, Reyes-Perez is second in the GSC in assists per set (9.36), while she is 12th nationally (second in GSC) in total assists with 711.  Redshirt freshman Lyara Rosario is 15th nationally and first in the GSC in total digs with 366, while freshman Kylie Stroehlein is 28th nationally in total attacks with 681.  Stroehlein leads the team with 190 kills, while graduate student Deona Mims is second with 140 and Smith is third with 137. 
 
Following Friday's match, the Blazers host Mississippi College on Wed., Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. at The Complex and then will travel to the Gulf South Conference/Sunshine State Conference Regional Crossover, scheduled for Oct. 22-23 in Winter Haven, Fla.  The opponents and times for the matches have not been announced at this time.
 
Check back with vstateblazers.com on the volleyball schedule page for links to live stats, audio/video streaming and more.