VALDOSTA, Ga.- The Valdosta State volleyball team defeated West Georgia in the first round of the Gulf South Conference Championship tournament at The Complex Tuesday night, 3-1 (25-19, 25-9, 23-25, 25-11).
 
With the win, the Blazers improved to 19-13 on the year while the Wolves fell to 14-15. The match also marks the final time VSU and UWG volleyball will face off for the foreseeable future as West Georgia is set to move up to Division I next season.
 
Match Information: Valdosta State vs. West Georgia (GSC Championship First Round)
Score: VSU 3, UWG 1 (25-19, 25-9, 23-25, 25-11)
Records: VSU (19-13) , UWG (14-15)
Location: Valdosta, Ga. (The Complex)
 
First Set:
The Blazers opened up the match on a massive 10-4 run in the first set as sophomore Katie Callenberger capped off the run with a well placed kill in the early minutes of the frame. The Wolves tried to get back in the set but the early run constructed by the Blazers proved to be tough to overcome as VSU outscored UWG down the stretch, 19-12. West Georgia came within three of the Valdosta State lead, following a 5-1 run, but a 4-0 rally by the Blazers put the set on ice at 24-17. The Wolves scored two more points before graduate student Mallory Roney closed out the set with a final kill to give VSU set one, 25-19.
 
Second Set:
Much like the first set, the Blazers rushed out to a massive 13-3 lead in the blink of an eye on six combined kills, two service aces and five UWG miscues. The Valdosta State offense continued to strike, out scoring West Georgia 7-3 to go up by 14, 20-6. The Wolves scored three more in the set, but the dominant lead by the Blazers was too much to overcome as Valdosta State closed the frame, 25-9.
 
Third Set:
In the third set, the Wolves got out to an early 5-2 lead to kick off the frame. The Blazers tried to battle back, but the Wolves continued to keep the Blazers at bay, building up a five-point lead, 15-10. VSU responded with a massive 5-0 run to tie the set for the first time at 15-15 following a service ace from junior Jojo Smith. In the closing points of the match, the Blazers and Wolves went back and forth until the set became tied up again at 23-23. However, Alllison Bowser ended up closing the set out for the Wolves with back-to-back kills, 25-23.
 
Fourth Set:
VSU looked to get back on track at the start of the fourth set, building up an 11-2 lead in a flash. West Georgia began to chip away at the Valdosta State lead, but the Blazers continued to keep their foot on the gas, going up 16-10 down the stretch. VSU ended the set in dominant fashion, building a colossal 9-1 run to defeat the Wolves in the opening round of the GSC Championship Tournament, 25-11.
 
Inside the Numbers:

UP NEXT
The Blazers will now advance to Pensacola, Fla. where they are set to take on Montevallo for the third time this season. Match time is set for 5 p.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 17 with live stats, streaming and ticket information all being available on vstateblazers.com.