VALDOSTA, Ga.- The Valdosta State volleyball team defeated Shorter University 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 27-25) at The Complex Friday evening. With the win the Blazers improved to 2-0 in Gulf South Conference play and 9-4 overall while the Hawks fell to 3-7 and 0-2 in GSC play.
 
Match Information: Valdosta State vs. Shorter
Score: VSU 3, Shorter 0 (25-22, 25-18, 27-25)
Records: VSU (9-4, 2-0 GSC), Shorter (3-7, 0-2 GSC)
Location: The Complex (Valdosta, Ga.)
 
First Set:
At the beginning of the first set, things started off pretty even with the Blazers and Hawks trading points back and forth until the score reached 12-12. The Blazer then scored two more to inch ahead before the Hawks scored three unanswered to take a one point lead, 16-15. VSU kicked it into high gear, rallying for a 8-3 run as graduate student Mallory Roney capped off the run with an explosive kill to put Valdosta State up 23-19. However, Shorter was not done scoring yet as the Hawks tallied three more unanswered points to make the game a little bit tighter at 23-22. The Blazers did not let the narrow lead shake them though as junior Jojo Smith delivered a momentum-swinging kill followed by a Shorter miscue to give VSU set one, 25-22.
 
Second Set:
Valdosta State wasted no time in the second set, outscoring the Hawks 15-7 in the blink of an eye as four different Blazers delivered seven total kills in the rally. Shorter was able to score two more points, but the Blazers responded with three points of their own, all from kills by VSU, 18-9. The Hawks then began to battle back, going on a 7-0 run to make the Blazer lead a little uncomfortable at 18-16. However, Valdosta State stepped on the gas and did not look back as the Blazers closed out the match on a 7-2 run to take set two and go up 2-0 in the match.
 
Third Set:
The Hawks rallied together at the start of the third set, racing out to a 12-4 lead in a flash. Down eight, the Blazers stayed resilient as they continued to chip away at the Shorter lead little by little. Following a kill from Roney and a Blazer mishap, the Hawks held a five-point lead at 16-11. The Blazer offense began to catch fire scoring four unanswered points on three kills and a Shorter miscue to come within one of the Hawks' lead, 16-15. However, Shorter began to pull away once again, tallying four-straight points to take a five point lead, 20-15. The Blazers continued to prove they were not shaken as VSU rallied for a 6-1 run to tie things up for the first time in the set, 21-21. The Hawks scored two, yet the Blazers responded right back with two points of their own before Shorter took advantage with a kill from Caroline Sivills to force set point, 24-23. Being faced with the possibility of heading to a fourth set, Valdosta State struck back with two straight kills from Roney and Smith to go up 25-24. VSU then suffered an attack error to knot things up at 25-25 before Smith delivered a game-shattering kill followed by a Shorter attack error. The Blazers ended up taking the match 27-25 following a massive comeback in the set. Valdosta State hit a match-high .289 in the set with 15 kills and only four miscues while Shorter had 15 kills and seven miscues for a .195 percentage.
 
Inside the Numbers:

 
Up Next:
The Blazers are set to host Lee University on Saturday at 1 p.m. before closing out their current homestand with a matchup against Albany State on Tuesday Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. For more information on Valdosta State volleyball, visit vstateblazers.com and go to the volleyball schedule page.