CARROLLTON, Ga. – The Valdosta State volleyball team split a pair of matches on the opening day of the Peach Belt Conference/Gulf South Conference Crossover in Carrollton, Ga., on Friday. The Blazers picked up a win over Georgia College 3-1 to open the crossover and then fell to USC Aiken in five sets, 3-2.  

The Blazers moved to 6-6 on the season while the Bobcats fell to 3-6 and the Pacers improved to 8-2.  

Match One (VSU 3, GC, 1) 

 The Blazers opened the Crossover with a dominating start, hitting .167 for the match while also recording 54 kills, 70 digs and a staggering 15 aces. The Blazer offense was led by graduate Mallory Roney, who was named the Guardian Bank Player of the Match as she recorded a double-double with 16 kills, 11 digs and hit .355 while also picking up two blocks. Sophomore Lyara Rosario was steady on the Blazers' back row, recording 23 digs and two service aces while sophomore Victoria Zarazel recorded 40 assists and three kills as the setter.  

For the Bobcats, the team was led by Ally Hall with 10 kills while Alanis Bernis recorded 17 digs on defense. The team hit .057 for the match and had 28 total kills and 45 digs.  

Set One (VSU 25, GC 15) 

The Blazers wasted no time jumping out to an early 7-3 lead. The Bobcats scratched back and cut VSU's lead to 13-8, but kills by Roney and an ace by Rosario allowed the Blazers to push ahead 17-9. Late in the set, the Bobcats went on a five-point run to come within five, 20-15, but the Blazer offense hit home five-straight points to take set one 25-15.  

Set Two (GC 25, VSU 23) 

Georgia College built an early 6-3 lead, but GC miscues and a service ace by Roney allowed the Blazers to come within one, 7-6. In the middle of the set, the Bobcats went on a 7-2 run to push their lead to 16-12, but the Blazers were able to tie the game at 18 from kills by Zarazel and an ace by sophomore Kylie Stroehlein. Deep into the set, the Blazers were able to put away three straight points to take the lead at 23-22, but Georgia College responded with three unanswered points of its own to take the second set 25-23. 

Set Three (VSU 25, GC 22) 

After a 7-4 start from the Blazers, Georgia College bounced back and built a slight lead, 10-8. VSU responded with a dominating 10-3 run from efforts by Pettigrew, sophomore Jojo Smith and Roney to push the Blazers to an 18-13 lead. The Bobcats responded with five unanswered points to tie the game at 18, but a huge kill by Smith allowed VSU to reach set point at 24-21. A final kill by Roney allowed the Blazers to take set three, 25-22.  

Set Four (VSU 25, GC 12)  

Georgia College opened up the set with a quick 5-3 lead but the Blazers fought back with a 7-1 run to take the lead at 10-6. After a small three-point run from the Bobcats, the Blazer offense exploded, outscoring the Bobcats 15-3 from GC miscues, service aces by Smith and Pettigrew and kills by Roney and Smith to take the fourth set 25-12 and the match 3-1.  

Match Two (USCA 3, VSU 2) 

In the second match, the Blazers hit .217 for the match and recorded 56 kills, 64 digs, 10 service aces and eight blocks.  Sophomore Mackenzie Murray led the offense with 17 kills while Roney was again selected as the Guardian Player of the Match after recording her second double-double of the day with 11 kills, 15 digs and hit .242 for the match. On defense, Rosario had a team-high 22 digs while Zarazel had 46 assists as the setter.  

The Pacers hit .225 for the match and recorded 61 kills, 76 digs and six aces. Sadie Mckay led the offense with 16 kills while Kari Mercer had a team-high 25 digs.  

Set One (VSU 29, USCA 27) 

The Pacers were able to jump out to a 6-2 lead until miscues and a kill by Roney brought the Blazers within one, 6-5. In the middle of the set, USCA went on a 4-2 run to build a 17-13 lead. After a Blazer serving error, the Pacers saw set point at 24-22 but kills by Murray and an ace by Rosario allowed the Blazers to take the lead at 25-24. VSU and USCA exchanged back-to-back points until Smith knocked one down for a kill and Pettigrew delivered a service ace to allow the Blazers to take set one 29-27.  

Set Two (VSU 25, USCA 20) 

After a 5-0 start, the Blazers were able to push their lead to 16-9 from an attacking error by the Pacers. USCA began to fight back and cut the Blazers' lead to 19-13, but additional Pacer miscues deep into the set allowed VSU to take the second set 25-20.  

Set Three (USCA 25, VSU 21) 

The Pacers were able to build a 6-3 lead to begin the set, but after a 7-1 run from the Blazers, VSU was able to regain the lead at 10-7. In the middle of the set, USCA was able to fight back and deliver four unanswered points to take back the lead at 18-17. A few attacking errors and kills allowed the Pacers to get to set point, and a final service ace allowed USCA to take set three 25-21.  

Set Four (USCA 25, VSU 23)  

After attacking errors from the Pacers, the Blazers were able to take the lead at 6-5. After the Pacers recorded a 7-2 run to regain the lead at 15-10, VSU slowly started to scratch back from Pacer miscues and kills by Stroehlein, Pettigrew and Murray to bring VSU within three, 23-20. After USCA reached set point, VSU was able to score three back-to-back points to come within one, 24-23, but a final kill from the Pacers allowed the team to take set four 25-23 and force a decisive fifth set.  

Set Five (USCA 15, VSU 10) 

After a 3-0 start for VSU, the Pacers fought back and tied the game at three. After a 6-2 run in the middle of the set, the Pacers saw a three-point lead, 12-9. A service error from USCA allowed the Blazers to keep the set alive, but a final kill from the Pacers allowed the team to take the final set 15-10 and the match, 3-2. 
 

Up Next  

The Blazers will round out the PBC/GSC Crossover on Saturday, taking on Augusta University at noon in Carrollton.