ROME, Ga. – The Valdosta State volleyball team fell in straight sets at Shorter on Saturday afternoon. The Hawks took sets one and two 25-19 and took the third set 25-17 to win the match. 

The Blazers fell to 7-12 on the year and 1-5 in the Gulf South Conference while the Hawks improved to 9-9 on the year and 4-2 in league action. 

VSU recorded 20 kills, six aces and 30 digs through three sets while sophomore Jojo Smith, the match's Guardian Bank Player of the Match, led the team with nine kills. Sophomore Lyara Rosario recorded a team-high six digs and two aces while Sophomore Audrey Bennett led the team with 14 assists as the setter. 

For the Hawks, the team recorded 31 kills, six aces, two blocks and 31 digs. Annie Veldhuis led the team with nine kills while Madison Sprosty had a team-high eight digs on defense. 

Set One (SU 25, VSU 19) 

The Hawks went on a 9-3 run to open the set. After a kill by Rosario and Smith to try to get VSU back into the set, the Hawks went on a 6-2 run to build a 16-6 lead. After a service error from Shorter and an ace by Sophomore Victoria Zarazel to bring Shorter's lead to 17-9, the Hawks continued to build their lead with three-straight points. Deep into the set, VSU went on a 5-0 run to come within four, 23-19, but two final points from Shorter allowed the Hawks to take set one, 25-19. 

Set Two (SU 25, VSU 19) 

Shorter opened the set with an early 11-3 lead, but efforts from Smith, Zarazel and Hawk miscues allowed VSU to come within four, 11-7. After the run, the Hawks responded with five unanswered points to build a 16-7 lead. Later in the set, VSU stopped the scoring drought with a service ace from Rosario, a kill by Smith and Hawk miscues to cut the lead to 23-18, but Shorter knocked down the final point to take set two, 25-19. 

Set Three (SU 25, VSU 17)

The Hawks opened with a 4-0 lead but a service error and miscues from Shorter allowed VSU to come within one, 4-3. The Blazers were able to tie the game at five from a Hawk attacking error, and then take the lead at 7-6 from two more Shorter miscues. Later in the set, Shorter went on a 5-1 run to regain the lead at 12-10, but VSU responded with a 5-1 run of its own to take back the lead at 15-13. Deep into the set, Shorter was able to score nine unanswered points and get three final points to take set three 25-17 and the match, 3-0. 

The Blazers return to the Complex on Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. for a rematch with Lee to continue GSC play. 

For all updates on Blazer volleyball visit vstateblazers.com or follow Valdosta State Athletics on social media.