Match Information – Valdosta State vs. Lee
Score: Valdosta State 3, Lee 2 (25-21, 27-25, 25-22, 25-16, 15-11)
Records: VSU (9-9, 2-3 GSC), Lee (4-9, 2-3 GSC)
Location: The Complex
 
Valdosta, Ga. – The Valdosta State Blazer volleyball team battled back from a 2-1 deficit and defeated Lee in a thrilling five set match Friday evening at The Complex.  Blazer senior Tammy Reyes Perez recorded a career high of 62 assists. She topped her previous career high of 56 which was recorded on Mar. 3, 2021, also against Lee. Freshman, Kylie Stroehlein also recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 14 kills and 11 digs.
 
First Set:
The Blazers started off the first set with a kill by freshman, Jojo Smith and an ace by Reyes-Perez, Tied at nine, VSU graduate student Grace Daugherty recorded a kill putting the Blazers back in the lead. The Flames then took the lead 13-10 off Blazer errors and forced the Blazers into a timeout. Following the timeout, the Flames continued to lead 16-13 and swelled the lead to 18-13. VSU called its final timeout of the set as the Flames led 19-14.  VSU rallied with four-straight points forcing Lee into a timeout.  Out of the timeout, the Blazers tied the match at 19 but Lee took the lead again 21-19 and won the first set, 25-21. 
 
Second Set:
Two kills by Smith started the second set off to a good start for the Blazers, leading 5-3 but the Flames tied the game at five with two VSU errors. Lee continued to lead 9-6 but an ace by Mims and a kill by Stroehlein, and freshman Caitlin Warnshuis tied the game at nine.  Warnshuis recorded another kill giving the Blazers the lead and followed with two more kills, but the Flames fought back to tie the set at 15.  VSU gained a three-point lead, but Lee fought back and brought the set to 20-19 as the Blazers called a timeout. Lee regained the lead and had set point, but Smith recorded two kills and made the score 24-23 in favor of the visitors. Followed by a Flames timeout Smith served up an ace tying the set at 24 followed by a Mims block and an ace by junior, Erin Ergle, leveling the match at 1-1 with a 27-25 victory.
 
Third Set:
Lee held a 6-4 in the third, but the Blazers responded with a service ace by Mims and two kills by Smith gave VSU the lead 12-10. Lee recorded three kills and took a 19-16 lead prior to a VSU timeout.  Reyes-Perez and Warnshuis tallied two kills following the timeout, but the Flames still held the lead at 21-18. Following the Blazers' final timeout of the set, Warnshuis and Reyes-Perez recorded another kill and brought the game to a 22-21 deficit.  Lee needed a breather and was able to regain the lead with a 25-22 victory.
 
Fourth Set:
The VSU rally began with a strong start to the fourth set, 5-1, with two kills by Smith and two blocks by Mims and Daugherty. Following a Lee timeout as VSU led 8-3 as Warnshuis recorded another kill. VSU built a 16-10 advantage as Reyes-Perez recorded a service ace and Mims a kill. VSU extended the lead to 22-15 and forced the decisive set with a 25-16 victory.
 
Fifth Set:
Taking the lead, the fifth set, VSU recorded three kills and a service ace, score 5-3. The Flames tied the game at six.  VSU took the lead again at 9-7 with a kill by Warnshuis and extended the lead to 12-8.  Two kills by Smith brought the Blazers to match point as the Flames took their final timeout at 14-10. VSU sealed the match at 15-11.
 
Inside the Numbers:
In total, VSU tallied 73 kills while hitting a .231 with 88 digs, 71 assists, 11 service aces, 12 block assists, and three solo blocks. Leading the Blazers in kills was Smith with 24, followed by Warnshuis with 15, Stroehlein with 14, and Daugherty with 10. Rosario led with 33 digs while adding five assists and two aces. Recording block assists was Daugherty (4), Mims (3), Warnshuis (2), and Smith (2). Mims also added the three and only solo blocks.
 
Upcoming:
The Blazers return to The Complex Saturday with another conference match facing the Hawks of Shorter University at 3 p.m.
 
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