VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State volleyball team hits the road for Gulf South Conference matchups versus Shorter on Friday, Mar. 12, at 7 p.m., and Lee the following day at 11 a.m. in Rome, Ga.
 
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Winthrop-King Centre at Shorter University will limit seating to a maximum of 375 spectators. Gates will open one hour prior to the game and masks are required for all fans in attendance.
 
The Blazers (0-5, 0-2 GSC) hit the road after a tough set of matches versus Montevallo, Auburn Montgomery, and West Florida. The Blazers were unable to get a set under its belt in all three of the matches but fought hard and made it close throughout. The Blazers averaged 19.6 points a set and scored over 20 points on four separate occasions with a close 26-24 set loss. Junior Jessie Mooney led the Blazers over the trio of games with 25 kills on her 90 attacks. As a team, the Blazers total 177 kills for 11.1 kills per set with a .142 hitting percentage as it allows its opponents to record an average of 13.6 kills per set. With 201 digs, the Blazers defensive side of the ball averages 12.6 digs per set along with 22.0 total blocks with two solo.
 
The Blazers are led by Mooney who's started all matches this season and leads the team in kills with 49 with an average of 3.06 kills a set. The junior has 39 digs on the year for second best on the team as well as a team high five service aces. Senior Tammy Reyes Perez is the Blazers leading setter with 127 assists in the 16 sets that she has seen for 7.94 per set, as she has tacked on 10 kills and 35 digs. On the defensive end of the ball, redshirt freshman Lyara Rosario Hernandez averages 2.81 digs per set from her 45 total digs to lead the team.
 
The Hawks enter the weekend slate with the same record as the Blazers at 0-5 and 0-2 in conference play. Shorter has accounted for 184 kills for 9.7 kills per set where its opponents hold the edge over the team with 12.6 kills per set where the team hits at a .075 percentage with 131 attack errors. With 33 service aces, the Hawks average 1.7 per set along with 8.9 assists per set. On the defensive end, the Hawks have recorded 314 digs as well as 31.0 blocks, good for 1.6 a set.
 
Named to the GSC Returning Players Watchlist, sophomore Lacee Gloves leads the team with 40 kills for 2.11 kills per set and is one of five Hawks to see all 19 sets. Sophomore Katherine Patrick has also seen the floor in all 19 sets and is second on the team with her 34 total kills, good for a .090 hitting percentage. Starting setter and a GSC Top Newcomer Annie Smith leads the team with 100 assists for 6.67 assists per set and has tacked on 12 kills during her 15 sets played.
 
The Blazers are on a two-match win streak against the Hawks where its last matchup came down to the wire. The Blazers fell two sets to one but were able to climb back and take the next two sets to win in five with help from 10 kills by Mooney. An even matchup between the two teams as VSU is 7-7 during its last 14 matchups, dating back to the 2012 season where it split a season series. The Hawks hold the edge over the Blazers in Rome, Ga., as VSU has a 3-4 record inside the Winthrop-King Centre, looking to bring it up to .500.
 
The Flames enter the weekend 2-1 overall, taking its last match 3-0 against Bryan College and a conference win over Shorter. It has accounted for 119 kills for 13.2 kills per set where its opponents are held to 10.6 kills per set. The team hits at a .192 percentage with 54 attack errors. With 12 service aces, the Flames average 1.3 per set along with 12.1 assists per set off 109. On the defensive end, the Flames have recorded 142 digs for 15.8 a set while recording 18.0 blocks.
 
Sophomore and GSC Returning Player Watchlist outside hitter Abby Stroh leads the team with 33 kills for a 3.67 kills per set clip. Stroh has started all nine sets this season and leads the team with 97 total attacks for a .196 hitting percentage. She also leads the team with four service aces and has recorded three service errors. The second player named to the watchlist was Emma Flowers who serves as the Flames leading setter. Flowers has 76 assists to her name for an average of 8.44 per set with a total of 16 kills. On the defensive end, sophomore Mackenzie Pearson holds the team lead with 41 digs for an average of 4.56 per set.
 
The Blazers and the Flames are neck and neck during its last 12 matchups as VSU is 6-6 against its foe. The Blazers hold a 21-19 set advantage over the Flames and won its last matchup 3-0 during the 2019 season, breaking the Flames five match win streak. Although the teams will be competing on a neutral floor, the Blazers give the advantage to the Flames on the road, only able to take two matches when not playing inside The Complex.
 
After the weekend slate, the Blazers finish off its regular season at West Georgia Saturday, Mar. 20, with first serve set for 3 p.m. Check back with vstateblazers.com for updates on all things Blazer volleyball and on all VSU's 12 intercollegiate athletic programs.