VALDOSTA, Ga.- The Valdosta State volleyball team is set to hit the road one last time in the regular season, taking on Lee on Friday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. before heading to Shorter on Saturday, for an afternoon matchup at 2 p.m.
 
Valdosta State (15-12, 7-5 GSC) recently fell to in-state rival West Georgia at home in a tough 3-0 loss on Tuesday evening as part of the 2023-24 Red Clay Rivalry Series.
 
As a team, VSU ranks sixth nationally and first in the GSC in total attacks (3,789) while also ranking first in the conference in attacks per set (37.51). Continuing with the offensive trend, the Blazers rank second in the league in kills (1,222), while also ranking third in kills per set with the team averaging 12.10 kills a frame. Defensively, Valdosta State leads the conference in total blocks (205.5), digs (1,635) as well as digs per set (16.19).
 
Individually, junior setter Audrey Bennett ranks second in the GSC in both total assists (742) and assists per set (7.87). Bennett also recently moved into the VSU top 10 all-time in assists, coming in at number 10 with 1064 career assists.  Graduate Student Mallory Roney is second in the GSC in service aces with 49 on the year, marking 19^th best in the nation. Junior Christina Pettigrew sits at number three in the league in total blocks with 93 on the year while ranking fourth in blocks per set, averaging 0.92 rejections a frame. She currently sits at number 14 in Valdosta State all-time blocks and number 11 in solo rejections while being just one solo block shy of moving into the number 10 spot. Pettigrew is also second in the GSC in hitting percentage, hitting an impressive .320 for the season. Finally, junior Mackenzie Murray ranks fourth in the league in total kills (282) while also ranking fourth in total attacks (795). Meanwhile, Junior Jojo Smith ranks sixth in the GSC in kills (245) while recently moving up to number 13 in VSU all-time kills with 861 career kills as a Blazer.
 
Heading into the weekend, Lee currently sits at 15-13 overall with a 6-7 mark in the GSC. The Flames recently dropped a hard-fought 3-2 loss to Alabama Huntsville on the road Tuesday evening, snapping a two-game winning streak since the GSC/SSC Regional Crossover. Earlier this season, VSU defeated Lee in a thrilling five-setter at The Complex, coming back from being down 2-0 early in the match, winning three straight sets to score the resilient 3-2 victory. Despite this, the Flames have won six of the last 10 matchups with the Blazers as VSU last defeated Lee in Cleveland, Tenn. on Sept. 25, 2015, 3-0. The Flames are led by Abby Stroh who has amassed 285 kills this season, scoring a match-high 21 against the Blazers back in September. Allie Scurlock is another notable name for Lee, with 234 kills this season, 13 of which came in the five-set contest with Valdosta State.
 
Shorter comes into Saturday's matchup with a 6-18 overall record and a 2-11 stint in conference play. On Tuesday, the Hawks fell at the hands of Montevallo on the road, 3-0 after defeating Christian Brothers last weekend, 3-0. Earlier this season, the Hawks fell to the Blazers in three sets at The Complex as the Blazers capitalized on 41 kills to sweep Shorter 3-0. Overall, Shorter has won six of the last 10 meetings with Valdosta State as VSU has not won in Rome, Ga. since Sept. 24, 2019. Caroline Sivills leads the way for the Hawks, posting 179 kills this season and 29 total rejections.
 
Following this weekend's matches, Valdosta State will return to The Complex for one final regular season homestand, taking on Alabama Huntsville on Friday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. before hosting Montevallo on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 1:30 p.m. for senior day. For more information on Blazer volleyball, visit vstateblazers.com.