JACKSON, Tenn.- The Valdosta State volleyball team defeated Union 3-0 (30-28, 25-15, 25-16) on Saturday afternoon, closing out the weekend 2-0 and ending a four-game road stint with a 2-2 mark.
 
With the win, VSU improved to 13-6 with a 5-2 mark in the Gulf South Conference while Union fell to 3-16 overall and 2-5 in conference play.
 
Match Information: Valdosta State at Union
Score: VSU 3, Union 0
Records: VSU (13-6, 5-2 GSC) , Union (3-16, 2-5 GSC)
Location: Jackson, Tenn. (Fred DeLay Gymnasium)
 
First Set:
Union came out of the gate firing on all cylinders, going up 11-6 in a flash as the Bulldogs scored nine total kills and a service ace to open the first set. However, the Blazers went on a game-changing run, outscoring the Bulldogs 8-3 to tie the game up at 14-14. With the Blazers back in the set, Union pulled out all the stops to amass a five-point lead at 20-15. This was short lived however as VSU scored six-straight to snatch its first lead of the day, 21-15. Union answered right back as the Blazers and Bulldogs traded points back and forth with neither team looking to let up. With the set all tied up at 28-28, sophomore Katie Callenberger delivered a massive kill followed by a Bulldog attack error to give VSU the hard-fought set one win, 30-28.
 
Second Set:
Union and VSU looked to pick up where they left off in the last set, trading blows back and forth to kick off the second set. The game became all tied up at 9-9 before VSU pulled away on a 4-1 run to go up 13-10. Valdosta State continued to build its lead, rushing out to a 22-13 lead in the blink of an eye. VSU closed out the set on a 3-2 run to take the second set 25-15. The Blazers had a total of 15 kills on the set compared to the Bulldogs five.
 
Third Set:
The Blazers began the third set with an explosive 11-3 start, kicked off by a pair of kills from graduate student Mallory Roney and junior Christina Pettigrew. For the remainder of the set, the Blazers kept their foot on the gas, not letting up as the closest the Bulldogs came within the VSU lead was three at 15-12. Up 17-14, Valdosta State went on a wild 8-2 run, capped off by kills from Callenberger and junior Audrey Bennett. The Blazers ended up taking set three, 25-16, winning the match in three total sets.
 
Inside the Numbers:

 
Up Next:
The Blazers will return home next weekend for a pair of GSC matchups beginning with Mississippi College on Friday night at 6 p.m. The volleyball team will then host youth day against West Alabama on Saturday at 1 p.m. as fans will be able to meet and get autographs from the team following the match. For more information on Valdosta State volleyball, visit vstateblazers.com and go to the volleyball schedule page.