Box Score Match Information
Score: Valdosta State University 3, Union (Tenn.) 1 (25-18, 25-19, 15-25, 25-22)
Records: VSU (2-7, 1-4 GSC), UU (5-2, 3-1 GSC)
Location: AUM Athletics Complex – Auburn University at Montgomery
 
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Blazers were able to come away with a victory during the first round of the Gulf South Conference Spring Championship Series, defeating Union (Tenn.) three sets to one. Jessie Mooney led the Blazers with a new career high of 19 kills for a .372 hitting percentage where Tammy Reyes Perez led with 44 assists. VSU finished the day with 58 kills and 28 errors and accounted for five service aces.
 
First Set:
Mooney got the Blazers on the board first with a kill as Union was able to answer with one of its own. The set went back-and-forth for the next few points as the Bulldogs would match every point the Blazers recorded. Neither team was able to pull ahead with a big lead, that was until the Blazers went on a crucial 14-5 run during the middle of the set to give it a commanding 19-10 lead with help from all around the Blazer's lineup. Caitlin Warnshuis was able to make it 22-12, putting the Blazers in the driver's seat, but the Bulldogs proceeded to go on a 6-0 run to cut it to a four-point game. The Blazers thwarted any comeback, as it was able to secure the final three points, capped off by a Reyes Perez ace.
 
Second Set:
The Bulldogs found the board for the first two points but VSU quickly bounced back with three points of its own, highlighted by a Grace Daugherty kill. Shortly after, a quick 4-0 run for the Blazers put it up 8-5 early on. The Bulldogs cut the lead down to 10-9 but Warnshuis smacked one to the floor to stop any run Union was trying to start. The Blazers were playing consistent as they matched every Union point with two of its own for a short while to give it a 17-11 lead late. Union went on to score four of the next five points to make it a close set at 18-16, but the Blazers rolled from there. VSU was able to close out the second set on a 7-3 run with a pair of kills from Warnshuis to put the pressure on the Bulldogs heading into the third set.
 
Third Set:
An attack error put the Bulldogs up at the start of the set, but Kennedy DeLuca was able to tie it up with a kill. With the set tied at three, the Blazers went on a 4-0 run to try and give it momentum to try and close the match, but the Bulldogs were able to go on a big 12-2 run, which included a run of eight-straight points to put the Blazers down 15-9. Warnshuis was able to break up the run and start one for the Blazers as it scored four of the next five points to put the pressure on and force a Bulldog timeout. Only down by three now, the Blazers looked to claw back to try and take control. However, the Bulldogs rolled after its timeout as it went on a 5-0 run and closed out the set, outscoring the Blazers 10-2, to take its first set of the match.
 
Fourth Set:
The Bulldogs carried over its momentum to take the first point of the set, but the Blazers quickly tied it up at one. The Bulldogs looked in control early as it went on a 6-2 run to put it up 7-3 to force a Blazer timeout. The timeout was used perfectly as the Blazers ended the Bulldog run and scored four of the next five points, cutting its deficit to just one at 8-7. The Bulldogs copied the Blazers and recorded four of the next five points as well to give it a cushion once again. The Bulldog run didn't faze the Blazers though as it went on a 7-0 run to give it the lead at 15-12. The Bulldogs scored three of the next four points to cut the lead to just one, but two quick kills from Mooney and Daugherty put the Blazers up three. A kill from Reyes Perez put victory in sight for the Blazers with the score at 23-17, but the Bulldogs were able to force a Valdosta State timeout after it closed the gap to 23-20. Warnshuis got a kill to force the match point, but the Bulldogs didn't quit as two VSU attack errors put the score at 24-22. The Blazers came out on top though as Reyes Perez was able to tack on her seventh kill to end the set and give the Blazers the match win, three sets to one.
 
Inside the Numbers:
Along with Mooney, Warnshuis found herself in the double digits for kills with 14. Lyara Rosario Hernandez led the defensive side of the ball once again with her 25 digs, followed by Mooney who recorded 18. As a team, Valdosta State hit at a .171 percent where the Bulldogs edged VSU as it finished with a .221 percentage.
 
Up Next:
The Blazers continue its season as it advances in the GSC Spring Championship Series. VSU is set to face Auburn Montgomery (5-1, 4-1 GSC) in the Championship Series Quarterfinal tomorrow at 6 p.m. E.T. in Montgomery, Ala.