VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State volleyball team is set to face off against Gulf South Conference foe West Georgia Saturday, Mar. 20, at 3 p.m., in Carrollton, Ga.
 
The Blazers (1-6, 1-3 GSC) will hit the road once again looking for its second straight win after a thrilling 3-2 set win over Lee. The Blazers dropped its first match of the weekend against Shorter 3-0 but bounced right back, beating Lee in a match that came down to the wire. VSU was able to secure set one and three before Lee forced a fifth set after its 25-18 set win. All five sets were close as one through three saw final sets of 26-24, 27-25, and 25-23. The Blazers took control in the deciding set, however, and took down the Flames after its 15-9 set win. The Blazers were led by a dominant performance from GSC Top Offensive and Freshman Performer of the Week Caitlin Warnshuis who accounted for 26 of the Blazers 68 kills. Warnshuis is the first Blazer since 2018 to record more than 20 kills in a match and holds the highest number of kills in a match by a Blazer in the last 10 years. Warnshuis tacked on 14 kills during the match against Shorter to lead the Blazers with 40 kills over the weekend. As a team, the Blazers total 283 kills for 11.8 kills per set with a .159 hitting percentage as it allows its opponents to record an average of 13.0 kills per set. With 349 digs, the Blazers defensive side of the ball averages 14.5 digs per set along with 34.0 total blocks with five solo.
 
The Blazers are led by Jessie Mooney who's started all matches this season and leads the team in kills with 72 for an average of 3.00 kills a set. The junior also leads the team with 67 digs on the year with nine service aces. Warnshuis is close behind with her 71 kills, good for 3.09 kills per set, a team high. Senior Tammy Reyes Perez is the Blazers leading setter with 210 assists in the 24 sets that she has seen for 8.75 per set, as she has tacked on 16 kills and 59 digs.
 
The Wolves enter the weekend at a 2-4 clip and 2-4 in conference play. West Georgia has accounted for 302 kills for 11.6 kills per set where its opponents hold the edge over the team with 12.5 kills per set. UWG hits at a .167 percentage with 135 attack errors. With 34 service aces, the Wolves average 1.3 per set along with 10.7 assists per set. On the defensive end, the Wolves have recorded 478 digs as well as 48.0 blocks, good for 1.8 a set.
 
Sophomore Tierra White leads the team with 64 kills for 2.46 kills per set and is one of six Wolves to see all 26 sets. Junior Emilee Harris is just a few kills behind White with 62 kills, good for 2.38 kills per set with a .191 hitting percentage. The Wolves leading setter is freshman Ainsley Schultz who has assisted on 246 of UWG's 278 total. The freshman also controls the lead on the team with 12 service aces, with freshman Sydney Blackmon close behind with her seven. Sophomore defensive specialist Olivia Graham holds the team lead with 107 digs, good for 4.12 digs per set.
 
The Blazers are on a two-match losing streak against the Wolves but generally fare well against the foe. Since 2010, the Blazers hold a 13-6 record over the Wolves with a 9-1 record when playing at home. The Blazers struggle inside The Coliseum in Carrollton, Ga. where its 4-5 and haven't won a match inside the arena since 2016. The Blazers went on a hot streak from 2013 through 2017 where it won every outing between the two, only allowing the Wolves to take three sets. During its two matchups last year, the Blazers came down with 76 kills and one set, led by 20 kills from Kennedy DeLuca. VSU averaged 19.1 points per set and recorded 12 service aces.