VALDOSTA, Ga. – Fresh off a 1-2 weekend in Augusta, Ga., the Valdosta State volleyball team hits the road once more to open Gulf South Conference play Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. versus in-state rival West Georgia in Carrollton, Ga. The Blazers will then return home to The Complex to host Shorter on Friday night at 6 p.m. before hosting Lee at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
 
VSU (7-4) opened play last weekend with a 3-1 victory over the previously undefeated Bobcats of Georgia College Friday morning before dropping a 3-0 decision to the hosting Augusta Jaguars Friday afternoon. The Blazers closed out the tournament with a 3-1 loss to USC Aiken on Saturday. For the week, VSU recorded 123 kills with a .135 hitting percentage in 445 swings, along with 116 assists and 20 aces.  The team recorded 226 digs and had 31 total blocks with 10 solo rejections. 
 
Individually, Junior Mackenzie Murray led the team with 31 kills while Junior Jojo Smith recorded 22 and junior Christina Pettigrew had 21. Junior Audrey Bennett had 50 assists for the week, while graduate student Mallory Roney led the team with six aces. Sophomore Katie Callenberger hit a team-high .242 for the week to lead the team.  Roney tallied her third double-double of the season against Georgia College in the weekend opener. Sophomore Gaby Ortiz led the team with 59 digs, while Roney had 47 digs. Pettigrew had five solo blocks and 15 total blocks to lead the team.
 
For the season, the Blazers are 13^th nationally and first in the GSC in total attacks (1,658), while the team is fourth nationally and first in the league in total blocks with 107.  VSU is 20^th nationally in digs for first in the GSC (720), while the team is 47^th in total assists, which is good for second in the league (479).  VSU is first in the GSC and 38^th nationally in total kills with 533.  Pettigrew is seventh nationally and first in the GSC in total blocks with 51, and is fourth in the GSC in points per set at a 3.56 clip. Murray is second in the GSC and in total attacks (338), while Ortiz is first in the league and 56^th nationally in total digs (171).  
 
West Georgia begins the week with a 6-3 record after going 2-1 in the AUM Tournament this past weekend. The Wolves defeated Miles College 3-1 before dropping a 3-2 decision to Southern Arkansas on Sept. 15. The Blazers head into the matchup winning three of the last ten with VSU taking the last matchup November 11, 2022 in Valdosta, 3-0. The Tuesday matchup also marks the first match of 2023-24 Red Clay Rivalry Series where VSU and UWG athletics compete over the course of the entire school year in a variety of sports.
 
Shorter enters the week 3-5 after dropping two last week. The Hawks dropped a 3-1 decision to Augusta University on Sept. 12 in the Shorter home opener before losing to UAH in an opening GSC matchup, 3-0, on Sept. 15. Against the Blazers, the Hawks are 4-1 in the last five matchups, dropping the last matchup on October 25, 2022 in Valdosta, 3-0.
 
Lee begins the week 7-4 with a pair of key GSC matchups before heading down to Valdosta, hosting Montevallo on Tuesday before heading to Carrollton, Ga. to take on the Wolves Friday evening. The Flames recently competed in the Henderson State Invitational where they went 1-2 for the weekend. Lee dropped a 3-0 decision to Ouachita Baptist before falling to Truman State University on Sept. 15. The Flames then defeated University of Arkansas at Monticello 3-2 on Sept. 16, closing out the weekend. The Flames head into Valdosta with a 7-3 advantage over the Blazers in the last ten matches with Lee taking the last matchup in Valdosta, 3-2, on October 4, 2022.
 
For live stats, live streaming, and information on Blazer volleyball, visit vstateblazers.com and head to the volleyball schedule page.