CARROLLTON, Ga. – The Valdosta State volleyball team fell in four sets, 3-1 at West Georgia Saturday afternoon. The Blazers fell to 6-9 on the year and 0-2 in Gulf South Conference action while the Wolves improved to 7-7 on the year and 1-2 in the GSC.  
 
The Blazers hit .058 for the match and recorded 41 kills, 82 digs, nine blocks and eight service aces. Sophomore Lyara Rosario, the match's Guardian Bank Player of the Match, led the Blazer defense with 35 digs and had three service aces on the evening. Graduate Mallory Roney led the offense with 11 kills, three blocks and a service ace while sophomore Giulia Dias recorded 20 assists as the setter. Sophomore Christina Pettigrew recorded a team-high five blocks while freshman Ava Young had three blocks.  
 
For the Wolves, UWG recorded 42 kills, 73 digs and 11 blocks. The team hit .105 for the match while Isabella Steffel led the team with nine kills and Sydney Blackmon had a team-high 24 digs.  
 
Set One (VSU 25, UWG, 21)  
 
The Blazers jumped out to an early 9-3 lead from efforts by Roney and UWG miscues. The wolves were able to scratch back and cut VSU's lead to 11-9 and then tied the game at 12. A kill by sophomore Victoria Zarazel and Young allowed VSU to regain the lead at 19-18. Deep into the set, the Wolves went on a three-point run, but the Blazer offense came alive and recorded six unanswered points to take set one, 25-21.  
 
Set Two (UWG 25, VSU 14)  
The Wolves built an early 5-0 lead, but the Blazers were able to fight back and half the Wolves' lead at 8-4. UWG then went on a 6-4 lead to push its lead to 13-7. Kills by Roney, Young, and a ball handling error from the Wolves allowed VSU to come within four, 17-13, but an 8-1 run from the Wolves allowed UWG to take set two, 25-14.  
 
Set Three (UWG 25, VSU 22)  
After a 3-0 start by UWG, kills by Pettigrew, Roney and a service ace from sophomore Jojo Smith allowed the Blazers to tie the game at three. After exchanging back and forth points, the Wolves went on a 6-1 run to build a 15-10 lead. Deep into the set, the Blazers began their comeback effort with nine-straight points to take the lead at 22-20, but UWG hit home five-straight points to take set three, 25-22.  
 
Set Four (UWG 25, VSU 22) 
The Wolves again jumped out to an early 7-3 lead, but miscues by the Wolves and an attack by sophomore Mackenzie Murray allowed the Blazers to come within one, 8-7. The Wolves then went on a three-point run, but miscues from UWG allowed the Blazers to stop the scoring drought. Later in the set, VSU went on a 6-1 run from kills by Roney and service aces from Rosario to tie the game at 17. After back and forth points, the Blazers held UWG at match point, 24-22, from a kill by Roney, but a final kill from the Wolves allowed UWG to take set three 25-22, and the match 3-1.  
 
The Blazers are back in action on Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. as the team hosts Union for the first GSC home match of the season. After Union, the Blazers will host Christian Brothers on Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. inside the Complex.  
 
For all updates on Blazer volleyball, visit vstateblazers.com or follow Valdosta State Athletics on social media.