HOOVER, Ala. – The Valdosta State volleyball team fell in straight sets to Saint Leo Friday afternoon to open the GSC/SSC Regional Crossover in Hoover, Ala. The Blazers dropped to 8-15 on the year while the Lions, who took the match 25-19, 26-24, 26-25, improved to 6-12 on the year. 
 
The Blazers recorded 29 kills, seven aces, three blocks and 36 digs, while hitting .136. Sophomore Lyara Rosario, the match's Guardian Bank Player of the Match, as she recorded six of the seven aces for the Blazers, and also had nine digs on defense. Sophomore Mackenzie Murray led the Blazers' offense with nine kills, while sophomore Jojo Smith had eight kills along with four digs. Senior Olivia Piazza had a team-high 11 digs along with a kill and sophomore Christina Pettigrew had a solo block and two block assists along with three digs and five kills. 
 
For the Lions, the team hit .211 and recorded 40 kills, seven aces, three blocks and 41 digs. Ally-Reese Williams led the offense with 12 kills while Jeanettee Henderson had 12 digs on defense and Margaret Schirm had a team-high four aces. 
 
Set One (SL 25, VSU 19)
After the Blazers jumped to an early 5-3 lead from a kill by Murray and Lion attack errors, the Lions were able to battle back and tie the set at nine and then take the lead at 11-10. A Lion attack error sparked a 4-1 rally from the Blazers, but Saint Leo responded with three-straight points to regain the lead at 15-14. Deep into the set, the Lions recorded six unanswered points to reach set point at 24-18. An attack error from the Lions kept VSU alive, but a final kill from Saint Leo allowed the lions to take set one, 25-19. 
 
Set Two (SL 26, VSU 24)
The Blazers again jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead, but the Lions fought back and tied the set at six and took a slight 8-7 lead following a 4-1 run. Attack errors, service aces from Rosario and a kill from Pettigrew allowed the Blazers to take a 14-10 lead, but Saint Leo responded with five-straight points to take back the lead at 17-16.  The two teams exchanged points until VSU reached set point at 24-23 from an ace by Rosario and a kill by Smith. The Lions ended the set strong with three points to take set two, 26-24. 
 
Set Three (SL 27, VSU 25) 
After a 4-1 start from VSU, the Lions scratched back for a 6-5 lead to begin the set. VSU was then able to tie the set at 14-all from Lion attack errors and a kill by Pettigrew. Later in the set, VSU took a 19-18 lead from kills by Murray and freshman Ava Young and then built a 22-20 lead from efforts by Murray and Lion errors. Saint Leo had the answer, once again, as it took the lead back from a Blazer miscue, but a service error from the Lions brought VSU back to the serving line. Two huge kills from the Lions allowed Saint Leo to take set three 27-25, and the match 3-0. 



The Blazers continue the GSC/SSC Crossover on Saturday, taking on Florida Tech at 10 a.m. ET and rounding out the crossover with Rollins at 5:45 p.m. ET