VALDOSTA, Ga.- The Valdosta State volleyball team opened the Blazer Volleyball Fall Tournament with a pair of wins over Saint Leo and Coker University on Friday. The Blazers defeated Saint Leo 3-1 (25-19, 25-23, 18-25, 25-16) before downing Coker in the nightcap 3-1 (25-21, 24-26, 25-18, 25-21).

Match #1: Saint Leo at Valdosta State 
Match Information 
Score: Valdosta State 3, Saint Leo 1 (25-19, 25-23, 18-25, 25-16) 
Records: VSU (4-1), SLU (3-1) 
Location: Valdosta, Ga. (The Complex) 

First Set:
The Blazers used a short run to take a 7-4 lead courtesy of a kill from graduate student Mackenzie Murray and a pair of miscues by the Lions.  SLU then would pull within one on a service error by the Blazers and a kill from Tajma Muharemovic for a 12-11 lead.  From there, VSU rattled off five-straight points for a 17-11 lead, highlighted by four errors and ace.  SLU raced back, pulling within 18-16 as it scored five of the next six points.  VSU wouldn't falter as it stretched the lead back out to five, scoring four of the next five points for a 22-17 lead and went on for the 25-19 victory.
 
Second Set:
The second set saw SLU rush out to a 5-2 lead in the second set for its first lead of the match.  The Blazers then took the lead at 8-7 on a miscue from the Lions as VSU rattled off seven of the next nine points for a 12-9 lead.  Later, Saint Leo pulled within one at 18-17, 21-20 and 23-22, but another miscue by the Lions gave VSU set point.  SLU used a kill from Oliwia Durka, but Murray came up with the kill for the 25-23 victory and two 2-0 lead.
 
Third Set:
Saint Leo broke a 7-7 tie with a 6-0 run for a 13-7 lead, highlighted by four miscues from the Blazers, an ace and a kill.  VSU then rattled off six-straight to tie the set at 13, but a service error on the Blazers started a 7-0 run by the Lions for a 20-13 score as SLU won 25-18. 
 
Fourth Set:
The Blazers quickly regained the moment, speeding out to a 5-0 lead, followed by a 4-0 run for a 12-5 lead highlighted by back-to-back blocks from sophomore Katie Callenberger and one shared with graduate student Mallory Roney.  The Blazers then stretched the lead to 19-9 on a kill from Murray.  SLU ended up cutting the deficit to six at 21-15, but three-straight points from the Blazers setup match point.  After a point from the Lions, Callenberger delivered her fourth kill of the match to seal the Blazer victory.
 
Inside the Numbers:

Match #2: Coker at Valdosta State 
Match Information 
Score: Valdosta State 3, Coker 1 (25-21, 24-26, 25-18, 25-21)
Records: VSU (5-1), Coker (2-4) 
Location: Valdosta, Ga. (The Complex) 

First Set:
The Blazers kicked off the match with a 11-5 rally, highlighted by four kills from Murray and a kill from junior Christina Pettigrew. The Cobras would not stay down for long, quickly striking back with four points to close in on the Blazer lead, 11-9. VSU and Coker traded three points back and forth before a pair of Coker miscues and kills from Pettigrew and Smith put the Blazers up 18-12. Down by six, Coker raced back on four Blazer mishaps and two kills to tie the match up at 18-18. With the Cobras knocking on the door, VSU went on a 7-3 run to close out the match as Murray delivered a critical kill to take set one, 25-21.
 
Second Set:
The second set saw Coker and Valdosta State trading blows with the set being tied at 8-8 after a Cobra attack error stalled a Coker rally. The Cobras picked it right back up going on a 4-1 run, capitalized by a kill from Naomi Earl-Reyes to go up 12-9. The Blazer offense then kicked it into high gear, going on a 5-0 rally as Roney, Smith and Pettigrew each delivered crucial kills to take the lead 14-12. However, Coker continued to chip away at the Blazer lead as VSU remained in front, 21-17. In the blink of an eye, the Cobras struck tying the set up at 21-21 after Earl-Reyes attacked with another kill. VSU and Coker each tallied three points apiece as the game remained in a deadlock at 24-24. Coker ended up scoring two straight points on a kill and a Blazer mishap to take a hard-fought set two, 26-24.
 
Third Set:
Valdosta State came out in the third set firing on all cylinders as the Blazers glided to a 16-5 lead in a flash, delivering 10 kills and one service ace as a team. Coker continued to fight to make the Blazer lead a little closer, but VSU continued to deliver kills as Murray scored the final four Valdosta State points on four kills. The Blazers took set three 25-18 with 17 total kills and only four errors, hitting .236 for the set.
 
Fourth Set:
The fourth set of the match looked like a grudge match from the beginning with the Cobras quickly taking a 3-0 lead which was quickly erased by the Blazers following a kill from Smith, 3-3. Coker began to pull away on a 5-2 run as the Cobras took a three-point lead, 8-5. The Cobras remained in front 11-8 before the Blazers went on an electric 5-0 run, headlined by a service ace from freshman Lily Glover to give VSU its first lead of the set. 13-11. Coker tacked on two more before the Blazers scored three more to build a three-point lead, 16-13. The Cobras responded with a five-point barrage on a kill and four Blazer miscues to sneak ahead, 18-16. Like clockwork, the Blazer offense struck back, scoring six straight points on two aces from Smith, kills from both Murray and Bennett and two Cobra attack errors, 22-18. The Cobras tallied two more before the Blazers went on a 3-1 run to close out the set and the match 25-21.
 
Inside the Numbers:

Up Next:
VSU is set to take on Young Harris College at 1 p.m. followed by Spring Hill at 7 p.m. to close out the Blazer Volleyball Fall Tournament on Saturday. Following the tournament, the Blazers head to Augusta, Ga. for three matches next weekend Sept. 15-16, facing Augusta University, along with neutral site matches versus Georgia College and USC Aiken. For updates on day two of the tournament and all things Valdosta State volleyball, go to vstateblazers.com and head to the volleyball schedule page.