VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State volleyball team opens the 2023 home slate Tuesday at 6 p.m., at The Complex versus the College of Coastal Georgia. The match Tuesday evening will be free admission for everyone. 

Fans can access links to live stats and streaming of the match at vstateblazers.com on the volleyball schedule page. As a reminder, FloSports is the home of Valdosta State volleyball streaming. For information on how to sign up, visit vstateblazers.com for detailed instructions. 

The Blazers are coming off a 2-1 record in Hickory, N.C., this past weekend in the Lenoir-Rhyne Tournament.  The Blazers scored a 3-1 victory over the host Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne, followed by a hard-fought 3-2 loss to Mount Olive. VSU finished the weekend with a 3-0 win over Converse on Saturday afternoon, closing out its weekend tournament run. 

VSU junior Mackenzie Murray led the Blazers in kills with 35, while junior Christina Pettigrew followed close behind with 27.  Junior setter Audrey Bennett recorded 52 assists, while sophomore Gaby Ortiz led the Blazers in digs with 41 and junior Jojo Smith added 30. Sophomore Katie Callenberger led in blocks with 18, including two solo rejections, while Bennett had one block.    

For the tournament, graduate student Mallory Roney had a massive double-double, recording 12 kills and 11 digs against Mount Olive. As a team, the Blazers tallied 147 kills for the tournament in 422 swings, while they had 131 assists with 19 service aces and 179 digs. VSU recorded 34 blocks with six solo blocks.    

This matchup between The Blazers and the Mariners will be the fifth match of the season for Coastal Georgia. The Mariners are 2-2, where they defeated Milligan University and Georgetown College (Ky.), falling to Taylor University and Blue Mountain University. Coastal Georgia is under the direction of Interim Head Coach Val Every, who is in her second season at the helm of the program. The Mariners are 0-2 against the Blazers, dropping the last match up in 2018, 3-0. The College of Coastal Georgia is an NAIA school located in Brunswick, Ga. 

Following Tuesday's match, the Blazers continue at home this weekend as they will host the VSU Fall Tournament, Sept. 8-9, at The Complex.  The tournament will have staggered start times throughout.  The Blazers are scheduled to face Saint Leo and Coker on Friday at 1 and 7 p.m., respectively, and Young Harris College and Spring Hill College at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively, on Saturday.