VALDOSTA, Ga.- Coming off two straight Gulf South Conference victories on the road last weekend, the Valdosta State volleyball team looks to continue its momentum in the conference when it hosts Mississippi College on Friday night at 6 p.m. before taking on West Alabama on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.
 
Saturday also marks the Blazer Volleyball Youth Match where youth eight grade and under wearing club volleyball uniforms or shirts will get free admission to the match against West Alabama. Following the match, young fans will also be able to meet and get autographs from the team.
 
VSU (13-6, 5-2 GSC) closed out a two week, four-game road trip with a pair of wins last weekend against Christian Brothers and Union. The Blazers first defeated Christian Brothers on Friday evening, coming back from being down 1-0 to winning 3-1. Then on Saturday, the Blazers closed out the weekend with a clean sweep of Union in three sets, 3-0.
 
For the weekend, junior Christina Pettigrew led the Blazers in kills with 24 while junior Mackenzie Murray tallied 19 and sophomore Katie Callenberger tacked on 14. Junior Audrey Bennett had 73 assists while Pettigrew led VSU in blocks for the stretch with a total of seven rejections for the week. Junior Kaia Baker had 28 total digs for the Blazers over the two-game stretch, recording a season-high 18 against the Buccaneers on Friday.
 
For the season, the Blazers are eighth nationally and first in the GSC in total attacks (2,792), while the team is third nationally and first in the league in total blocks with 169.5. Valdosta State also ranks 19th nationally and first in the conference in attacks per set, averaging 38.25 attacks a set. VSU is 11^th nationally in digs for first in the GSC (1,247), while the team is 28^th in assists, which is good for first in the league (825).  VSU is first in the GSC and 16^th nationally in total kills with 929. The Blazers are also 7-1 in home matchups this season and are on a three-game winning streak at The Complex.
 
Individually, Pettigrew is eighth nationally and first in the GSC in total blocks with 81 and is fifth in the GSC in points per set at a 3.50 clip. Murray is third in the GSC in total kills (212), while also ranking third in the conference in total attacks with 579. Graduate student Mallory Roney is first in the league and ninth nationally in-service aces (39) while also being second in the GSC in aces per set (0.53). Meanwhile, Bennett is third in the conference in assists with 514 assists for the year.
 
Entering the week, Mississippi College is 7-8 overall with a 6-2 record in the GSC. The Choctaws are currently riding a four-game winning streak after defeating Auburn Montgomery, Lee and Shorter in 11 total sets last week. Leading the charge for MC, Lydia Paulette has a conference second-best 221 kills, coming off 14 kills against Shorter and 16 against Lee. Historically, the Choctaws are 1-9 against the Blazers in the last ten matchups, winning the last matchup, 3-1, on Oct. 7, 2022 in Clinton, Miss.
West Alabama enters the weekend 4-15 overall with a 1-7 stint in the GSC. This week, the Tigers defeated Lane 3-0 on Tuesday evening and are set to take on West Georgia in Carrollton, Ga. before heading down to Valdosta on Saturday. Ally Craig leads the Tigers in kills with 131 on the season while Jaida Alvin isn't far behind with 123, coming off of a massive game against Lane with 12 kills, 10 digs and four service aces. The Blazers are 6-4 against the Tigers in the last 10 matches with the last victory UWA had in Valdosta came on Oct. 20, 2017.
 
The Blazer will head to Orlando, Fla. next weekend for the GSC/SSC Regional Crossover as matches will be announced following this weekend. For more information on Valdosta State volleyball, visit vstateblazers.com and go to the volleyball schedule page.