WALTHAM, Mass.– The Valdosta State volleyball team fell in straight sets to Purdue University Northwest and American International Friday afternoon on day one of the Sandy Hoffman Memorial Tournament in Waltham, Mass. The Blazers fell to 0-3 on the year while PNW improved to 1-0 and AIC improved to 2-0 on the year.  
 
Game One: (PNW 3, VSU, 0) 
Set One (PNW 25, VSU, 15)  
The Blazers got on the board first with a kill by sophomore Lyara Rosario as VSU scored four of the first six points.
 
After a few Blazer miscues, the Pride were able to tie the game at five, but a kill by graduate Mallory Roney allowed the Blazers to regain the lead, 6-5, but the Pride fought back to tie the game again at six.  
 
The Pride regained the lead at 8-6 after a kill and a hitting error.  After a kill by Rosario the Blazers were able to cut the Pride's lead to 11-8, but back-to-back runs from PNW swelled the lead to 17-9.
 
Following a pair of attacking errors and a huge kill by sophomore Jojo Smith, the Blazers were able to pull within 20-11.  


Kills by Roney and sophomore Mackenzie Murray and a ball handling error from the Pride allowed the Blazers to cut the deficit to 24-15, but an attacking error from the Blazer offense allowed Purdue Northwest to take set one 25-15.  
 
Set Two (PNW 25, VSU 17)  
Purdue Northwest jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead, but back-to-back attack errors from the Pride brought the Blazers within two, 7-5. The Pride stretched the lead back to 11-5 moments later.
 
A service ace and a kill by Harris brought the score to 14-9, but PNW had the answer every time VSU tried to make a run.  The Pride built a 23-15 lead and won the second set, 25-17.  
 
Set Three (PNW 25, VSU 21)  
 
After PNW jumped to a 9-5 lead in the third set, sophomore Kylie Stroehlein came up with a huge kill to bring VSU back within three, 9-6.  PNW answered back for a 14-9 lead, but a kill by Roney and a PNW attacking error pulled the Blazers within three at 14-11, but a Pride kill and a Blazer attacking error extended the PNW lead to 16-11.  
 
Kills by sophomore Victoria Zarazel, Murray and Stroehlein sparked the Blazers' offense late into the set at an 18-16 deficit, but PNW pushed the lead to 21-16. 
 
A kill by Roney and Smith, and an attack error from the Pride pulled the Blazers within 24-21, but a service error allowed PNW to take set three 25-21 and the match 3-0.  
 
Inside the Numbers  
The Blazers recorded 36 kills, 45 digs, two blocks and hit .136 for the match. Roney led the team with 10 kills while sophomore Ramsey Marshall led the team in digs with 13.  
 
Game Two (AIC 3, VSU, 0) 
Set One (AIC 25, VSU 17) 
 
AIC and VSU stayed neck and neck until the Yellow Jackets went on a 3-0 run to build a 13-10 lead in the middle of the opening set.   
 
A late kill by sophomore Jojo Smith allowed the Blazers to stay alive at 24-17, but a strong-hit kill from AIC gave the Yellow Jackets the first set, 25-17.  
 
Set Two (AIC 27, VSU, 25) 
The Blazers went on an early four-point run at the beginning of the set from a service ace and three AIC miscues to give VSU a 4-0 lead, but the Yellow Jackets scratched back to tie the game at four.  
 
VSU built its largest lead of the match, 12-6, from a kill by Harris and AIC miscues, but the Yellow Jackets responded with a seven-point scoring campaign to gain the lead at 13-12. 


VSU and AIC exchanged points through the end of the set as AIC reached set point at 24-23, but a kill by Stroehlein allowed the Blazers to stay alive at 24 even and another kill by Stroehlein gave the Blazers their first set point at 25-24.  
 
Blocks from AIC's defense and key kills allowed the Yellow Jackets to push past the Blazers and take the second set, 27-25.  
 
Set Three (AIC 25, VSU 23)  
After exchanging points throughout the first part of third set, the Blazers were able to build a three-point lead at 15-12 from a kill by freshman Ava Young.  
 
The Blazers extended the lead to 21-16 lead from AIC attacking errors and kills from Smith, Stroehlein and Young, but the AIC offense came alive and knocked down seven unanswered points to give the Yellow Jackets a 23-21.  
 
After a kill by Smith to bring the Blazers within one, 24-23, a Blazer service error allowed AIC to take set three 25-23 and the match 3-0.  
 
Inside the Numbers  
The Blazers recorded 28 kills, eight blocks, 47 digs and six aces during the match. Smith led the team in kills with 12, while Zarazel led the team in digs with 14. Rosario ended the match with three aces, giving her a total of four for the afternoon.  
 
Up Next  
The Blazers are back in action on Saturday, facing off against Bentley at 11 a.m., and then Holy Family at 3:30 p.m., for the final day of the Sandy Hoffman Memorial Tournament.  
 
For all updates on Blazer volleyball, visit vstateblazers.com or follow Valdosta State Athletics on social media.