Match Information
Score: Flagler College 3, Valdosta State University 1 (16-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-19)
Records: FC (2-0), VSU (0-2)
Location: Flagler Gymnasium – Flagler College
 
St. Augustine, Fla. – The Blazers fought hard during its second matchup this season against the Saints but were unable to take the match, losing three sets to one.  Jessie Mooney led in kills for the second straight match with 13 while Tammy Reyes Perez led the team in assists with 38.
 
First Set:
The Blazers were able to get the first point on the board with help from a Flagler attack error, but the Saints were able to get one right back. The set went back and forth for the next few points where it saw three ties but not once did VSU fall behind. A kill from Caitlin Warnshuis put the Blazers up 6-5 and the team didn't look back from there. A 3-0 run put VSU up 8-5 and gave it the momentum to not trail for the entire first set. The Saints were able to bring it close after a Blazer attack error to cut the Saints deficit to three but VSU got the point right back and scored the next three points. The Blazers went on a roll and outscored the Saints 13-7 during the next 20 points to win its first set in over a year 25-16. The Blazers took advantage of the Saints six attack errors, where it only made two.
 
Second Set:
Just like the first set, the Blazers were able to get on the scoreboard first from kills by Olivia Piazza and Mooney, but the Saints were able to get two right back. The Blazers took the largest lead of the set, going up 9-5 after a Saint attack error just after Reyes Perez secured a VSU point. VSU kept up its lead until late in the set, when the Saints went ahead 18-17 after an ace. The Saints narrowly kept its lead while a ball handling error from the Saints made the set tied at 21, but the Saints answered back with two straight kills to take a 23-21 advantage. VSU put the pressure on where it made it a 24-23 game after a service error, but the Saints settled down and were able to close out the set with a kill to tie the match at one set a piece.
 
Third Set:
For the third set in a row, the Blazers gained the first point from Kennedy DeLuca. The Blazers fought hard in the beginning where it took a short 4-2 lead but the Saints were able to battle back and go on a 5-0 run to take the lead which they would hold for the remainder of the set. Grace Daugherty made it just a two point game, but the Saints seemed to have an answer.  VSU saw a Flagler set point down 24-17 but were able to put the pressure on as it put two points on the board, but the Saints rallied back to score its last point, taking its second set 25-19.
 
Fourth Set:
The Blazers came out swinging, putting up the first two points, but the Saints quickly turned around and took the lead at 5-4. VSU didn't quit, however, where it tied the game up and eventually took the 7-6 lead from a Mooney kill. The Saints got two quick points to retake the lead, but the Blazers tied it up soon after from a kill by Warnshuis. Flagler went on a run to open the game and go up by as much as eight, taking control of the deciding set. The Blazers got four straight points to make it a four point game but the Saints closed out the set to win the match 25-19.
 
Inside the Numbers:
The Blazers finished with 50 kills and just 16 errors. VSU finished with four aces with two coming from Megan Stanton. As a team, Valdosta State hit at a .274 percent where the Saints edged VSU as it finished with a .317 percentage. Piazza led the team in digs with 12 as the Blazers defense totaled 30.
 
UP NEXT:
VSU will return home Saturday, Mar. 6, where they'll face off against Montevallo at 10 a.m., and Auburn Montgomery at 3 p.m. Fans can access links to live stats, audio/video streaming, ticket information and more at vstateblazers.com on the volleyball schedule page.