Match Information
Score: Shorter 3, Valdosta State University 0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-19)
Records: SU (1-5, 1-2 GSC), VSU (0-6, 0-3 GSC)
Location: Winthrop-King Centre – Shorter University
 
ROME, Ga. - The Blazers fell Friday night against Shorter University, dropping three sets to none. Freshman Caitlin Warnshuis led the Blazers with 14 kills for a .286 hitting percentage where Tammy Reyes Perez assisted on 24 kills. VSU finished the day with 38 kills and 23 errors and accounted for five service aces.
 
First Set:
Jessie Mooney recorded the Blazers first kill of the match to help tie the set up early, but the Hawks would answer. VSU gained a lead shortly after from a Hawk attack error and rolled ahead to take a 10-6 advantage with help from Warnshuis. The Hawks closed the gap as the Blazers quickly saw the game back tied at 12 but didn't count itself out, fighting for the extra point to put itself ahead. The Blazers would surrender its lead at the 15-point mark where Shorter would eventually go on a six-point run, turning the tables on VSU. The Blazers clawed back though where it was only down by one at 22-21. Two attack errors put the Blazers up 23-22, inching closer to winning the set, but the Hawks hammered back and scored the last three points to take a close set one, 25-23.
 
Second Set:
The Blazers got off to a hot start, recording the first three points with help from Warnshuis and an Erin Ergle ace. VSU extended its lead to 5-1 and were taking advantage of the Hawks attack errors. The Blazers maintained its lead off a plethora of kills from various hitters, but the Hawks came storming back. The Blazers lead quickly turned to the Hawks lead where it was able to take control at the halfway point. The Blazers would fight hard though and refused to give up, taking a 17-16 lead off an attack error. The Hawks would come down with a kill followed by an ace to give it the lead, but yet another attack error tied the set up late. The Hawks took advantage of a VSU attack error and went on a big 4-0 run to give itself the 22-18 lead. Kennedy DeLuca looked to sprout a comeback as the Blazers scored four of the next seven points, but the Hawks were able to clinch the set, 25-22.
 
Third Set:
Five-straight points put the Blazers in a very strong position during a key third set as Mooney accounted for three of the five. The Hawks answered with three of its own to cut the gap to two but VSU stayed on its path and maintained its lead through the early portion of the set. The Hawks rallied, however, where it took the Blazers lead for itself at the 11-10 mark, but the Blazers took it right back a few points after from a Reyes Perez kill. The game teetered back and forth where it saw six ties over the course of the next 11 points. A Blazer attack error pushed the Hawks ahead late at 19-18 where they sealed the deal from there. Warnshuis was able to tack on the last Blazer point to make it 20-19, but Shorter took control to score the next five points to win Friday's match.
 
Inside the Numbers:
Lyara Rosario Hernandez recorded another pair of service aces along with Mooney, Rebecca Sills, and Ergle adding one of its own. As a team, Valdosta State hit at a .129 percent where the Hawks edged VSU as it finished with a .177 percentage. Rosario Hernandez led the team in digs with 13 as the Blazers defense totaled 57.
 
UP NEXT:
The Blazers get right back to it tomorrow with a matchup against Lee set for 11 a.m. Fans can access links to live stats, audio/video streaming, ticket information and more at vstateblazers.com on the volleyball schedule page.