AUGUSTA, Ga.- The Valdosta State volleyball team split a pair of matches in the PBC/Gulf South Crossover tournament in Augusta, Ga. Friday. VSU downed Georgia College 3-1 (18-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-23) before falling to hosting school, Augusta University, 3-0 (14-25, 22-25, 21-25).
 
Match #1: Valdosta State vs. Georgia College

Match Information
Score: Valdosta State 3, Georgia College 1 (18-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-23)
Records: VSU (7-2), GCSU (8-1)
Location: Augusta, Ga. (Augusta University)
 
First Set:
The first set began with VSU getting behind early as Georgia College took a five-point lead over the Blazers, 14-9. Valdosta State then rallied for a 5-2 run, capitalized by a kill from junior Christina Pettigrew to bring the set within two, 16-14. The Bobcats responded with a 4-2 run of their own to go up by four, 20-16, following a kill from Rosa Fisher. GCSU finished the set on a 5-2 run to take the first set 25-18. The Bobcats hit an impressive .560 on 17 kills and three errors for the set, compared to the Blazers seven kills and six errors for .043.
 
Second Set:
The Blazers and Bobcats came out trading blows to kick off the second set. Tied up at 9-9, GCSU scored two on a kill and a service ace before the Blazers went on a dominant 8-1 run to go up five, 17-12. VSU continued its offensive barrage, out-scoring the Bobcats 7-5 on six kills and a service ace to go up 24-17. However, Georgia College made things interesting, scoring six straight points to bring the VSU lead to just one, 24-23. Valdosta State was able to stop the GCSU rally with a match-winning kill from Pettigrew to take the second set, 25-23.
 
Third Set:
Valdosta State spared no time getting to work in the third set, racing out to a 8-4 lead, capped off by back-to-back kills from junior Mackenzie Murray. However, the Bobcats would not go away that easily, rallying for a 7-3 run to tie things up at 11-11. With the Bobcats on their heels, the Blazers responded with a 5-2 run to take a 16-13 lead. Georgia College scored two more before VSU struck back with a 7-1 run, capitalized by a kill from graduate student Mallory Roney to put Valdosta State up 23-16. The Bobcats went on to score four unanswered but the Blazers scored two more on kills from Roney and Pettigrew to take set three, 25-21. The Blazers tallied 16 kills for the set with only two attack errors to hit .350 while the Bobcats recorded 15 kills and five miscues, hitting .217 for the set.
 
Fourth Set:
The fourth set of the match looked like a mirror image of the second set with the Blazers and Bobcats trading blows back and forth until VSU took a two point lead on a kill from junior Jojo Smith, 12-10. However, the Bobcats struck back with a 5-0 run to go up 15-12. VSU continued to fight to get back into the set, but Georgia College would not let up, going up 21-17 later in the set. The Blazers continued to chip away, going on another dominant 6-1 run to take the lead back 23-22. With the match coming down to the wire, GCSU scored on a kill to tie the set up at 23-23 before the Blazers delivered a pair of kills from Roney and Murray to take the set and give Georgia College its first loss of the season, 25-23.
 
Inside the Numbers:

 
Match #2: Valdosta State at Augusta University

Match Information
Score: Augusta 3, Valdosta State 0 (14-25, 22-25, 21-25)
Records: AU (7-3), VSU (7-3)
Location: Augusta, Ga. (Augusta University)
 
First Set:
Augusta kicked off the match with a dominant 8-0 run featuring six straight kills and a service ace by the Jaguars. The Blazers fought back, out scoring Augusta 9-6 to bring the set back within five following a Jaguar attack error, 14-9. AU responded with a 7-2 run to take a 10 point lead over the Blazers 21-11. VSU scored three more in the match but the Jaguars ended up taking set one, 25-14. The Blazers finished the set with six kills while the Jaguars tallied 15.
 
Second Set:
Following dropping set one, Valdosta State rushed out to a 8-4 lead following a service ace from Smith. However, the Jaguars came out of a timeout ready to attack, building an 8-2 rally to take the lead 12-10. VSU tallied three more points while AU scored four as the match came down to a three-point game 16-13 in favor of the Jaguars. The Blazers struck back, going on a 4-0 run to take the lead back, 17-16. Each team tacked on three points apiece before Augusta took the lead on a 4-0 run, 23-20. VSU scored two more to come within one 23-22 before the Jaguars closed out the set on a 2-0 run to take the set, 25-22.
 
Third Set:
The Jaguars came out fast, scoring four straight to begin the third set, 4-0. However, the Blazers responded with a 4-0 run of their own to tie things up at 4-4. Augusta then began to pull away, going on a 6-2 run to take a four point lead, 10-6. The Blazers continued to be resilient as they went on a 5-1 rally, tying the set up at 11-11 following a kill from Smith. VSU scored three more before Augusta scored nine to go up by six, 20-14. The Blazers and Jaguars each traded four points with Augusta looking at match point, 24-18. With the match on the line, the Blazers rallied for three straight but a VSU attack error sealed the match for Augusta, 25-21.

Inside the Numbers:

Up Next:
The Blazers are set to play one more match in Augusta against USC Aiken Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. before heading to West Georgia to take on the Wolves at 6 p.m. on Tuesday evening. For updates on all things Valdosta State volleyball, head to vstateblazers.com and go to the volleyball schedule page.