Match Information – Valdosta State vs. West Alabama
Score: Valdosta State 3, West Alabama 0 (25-18, 29-27, 25-18)
Records: VSU (10-11), West Alabama (1-13)
Location: Valdosta, Ga.
 
VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State Blazer volleyball team defeated Gulf South Conference foe West Alabama 3-0 in their first matchup of the season. Freshman Jojo Smith and Kylie Stroehlein both record double-doubles as Smith led the Blazers with 11 kills and 11 digs, and  Stroehlein tallied ten kills and 16 digs.
 
First Set: 
West Alabama started the first set taking an early lead 3-0, but VSU fought back to tie the score at four and took the lead with two kills by this week's GSC Freshman of the Week, Smith. 
 
A block by Stroehlein gave the Blazers a three-point lead, forcing the Tigers to call a timeout at 11-8. 
 
Graduate Grace Daughtry and freshman Caitlin Warnshuis recorded a kill after the timeout as VSU led 18-12. 
 
West Alabama called their final timeout of the set as they trailed 21-15 and looked to scratch back at the Blazers' lead but were unsuccessful as VSU dominated the first set, 25-18.
 
Second Set: 
Two blocks by graduate Deona Mims started the second set strong for the Blazers. A kill by senior Tammy Reyes-Perez gave the Blazers the lead 7-6 and sent Mims back to the serving line as she looked to start a rally for the Blazers. 
 
Smith recorded an ace and forced a Tigers timeout at 13-7. Following the timeout, a Blazer service error gave the ball back to West Alabama as they looked to create momentum. 
 
Stroehlein recorded a kill and an ace, and Mims recorded a kill with the Blazers still in the lead, 18-11. The Tigers called their second timeout as redshirt freshman Lyara Rosario recorded a service ace, 20-15. 
 
West Alabama rallied three points from a block and two Blazer hitting errors and forced Head Coach Kaleigh Zoucha to call the first VSU timeout of the match. 
 
West Alabama took the lead with a service ace and two kills, 22-20, following the timeout.
 
VSU caught back up and tied the score at 23, but the set continued to go point for point until the Blazers rallied two back-to-back points from a kill by Warnshuis, and a Tigers attacking error allowed VSU to take the second set, 29-27.
 
Third Set: 
The third set started point for point between the Blazers and the Tigers until the match was tied at five. VSU took the lead 7-5, with a Reyes-Perez kill and a UWA hitting error. 
 
The Blazers continued to lead 13-11 as Daughtry, Smith, and Mims recorded a kill. The Tigers fought back and tied the match at 13 from a kill and a Blazer hitting error. 
 
The Blazers then took a four-point lead, 20-16, with an ace by Reyes-Perez, as West Alabama called a timeout. 
 
With kills by Warnshuis, Stroehlein, and a Tigers service error, the Blazers took the third set 25-18 and the match 3-0. 
 
Inside the Numbers: 
VSU hit a .209 with 43 kills and only 16 errors. The Blazers also tallied 70 digs, 42 assists, ten service aces, six solo blocks, and six block assists. Following Smith and Stroehlein in kills were Warnshuis with eight, Daughtry with six, and Mims and Reyes-Perez each with four. Rosario led the Blazers in digs with 25 while redshirt freshman Ramsey Marshal added eight. Leading VSU in assists was Reyes-Perez with 33 as she also tallied six digs and two service aces. Smith also recorded four service aces as Stroehlein recorded two, and Daugherty and Rosario recorded two each.
 
Upcoming: 
The Blazers are back in action at home in the Complex on Wednesday, Oct. 20, facing Mississippi College at 6 p.m.
 
For live stats, live streaming, and information on Blazer volleyball, visit vstateblazers.com or follow Blazer Athletics on social media for updates.