VALDOSTA, Ga.- With a mix of fresh faces and key returners, the Blazer volleyball team is set to begin its 2023 season with a road trip to Hickory, N.C., to play in the Lenoir-Rhyne Tournament Friday and Saturday. The Blazers open the tournament on September 1 battling host Lenoir-Rhyne at 1 p.m., before facing Mount Olive at 5 p.m. The Blazers will then take on Converse on Saturday at 12 p.m.
 
The Blazers, who were picked sixth in the GSC Preseason Poll, finished the 2022 season with a 14-19 record and an 8-8 mark in the GSC.  Junior Jojo Smith, who was named to the 2023 Preseason All-GSC team, led the team in both kills with 326 and digs with 228 in 2022. The team finished the 2022 season with 1,299 total kills, 1,785 total digs and a .154 attack percentage. 

Along with Smith, junior Mackenzie Murray, graduate student Mallory Roney, sophomore Ava Young and junior Christiana Pettigrew are set to return for the 2023 campaign among others. Offensively, Murray tallied 258 kills and Roney tallied 218 for second and third on the team. Defensively, Pettigrew led the team in total blocks with 123 last season while Young tallied 85.

Under the direction of sixth-year head coach Kaleigh Zoucha, the Blazers look forward to a successful season with a strong core of returners and talented newcomers. Since starting at Valdosta State, Zoucha has guided her team to four GSC conference tournament berths. With a great group of players on the team, the Blazers are looking to return to the conference tournament this season and continue their ascent in the region and nationally.

Zoucha welcomes back a total of ten players from last season and added six fresh faces including freshmen Lily Glover and Hailey Holder, as well as junior Kennedy Hairston, junior Kaia Baker, sophomore Katie Callenberger and sophomore Gaby Ortiz.

In 2022, Valdosta State ended the season on a hot streak, winning six of its last seven games of the season to qualify for the Gulf South Conference Tournament. The Blazers look to ride this momentum into the start of the 2023 season.

Last season, Lenoir-Rhyne recorded an 18-9 record and a 13-5 mark in the South Atlantic Conference. Friday's meeting marks the first time since 2007 the Blazers will face the Bears. Lenoir-Rhyne is currently 2-0 all time against the Blazers heading into Friday's match up

Mount Olive had a strong 2022 season, as the team recorded a 23-9 record and an 15-2 mark in the Conference Carolinas. The Trojan's were selected fourth in the 2023 Conference Carolinas Preseason Poll. Friday evening's meeting marks the first meeting between the Blazers and the Trojans.
 
To round out the Tournament, the Blazers will face Converse University for the third time in the past five seasons as VSU holds the 2-0 edge. Last season the Valkyries had a 9-19 record and an 5-13 mark in the Conference Carolinas. Converse was selected eighth in the Conference Carolinas Preseason Poll. 

Following the tournament, Valdosta State will open the 2023 home slate against Middle Georgia State on Tuesday, September 5 at 6 p.m., at The Complex. VSU will then host the Blazer Volleyball Fall Tournament the following weekend from September 8-9. For live stats, streaming information via FloSports, and more, visit vstateblazers.com.