Match Information: Valdosta State at Auburn Montgomery
Score: VSU 3, AUM 2 (20-25, 22-25, 25-18, 25-21,15-13)
Records: VSU (7-5, 1-1 GSC), AUM (4-8, 1-2 GSC)
Location: Montgomery, Ala. (AUM Athletics Complex)
 
First Set:
At the start of the match, Auburn Montgomery rushed out to a 6-2 lead in a flash. The Blazers then went on a competitive 5-3 run to come within two of the Warhawks' lead at 9-7 following an AUM service error. However, AUM continued to stay one step ahead of the Blazers, continuing to hold them at bay down the stretch. The Warhawks held its biggest lead of the set at 19-14, prompting a Valdosta State timeout. Out of the break, VSU fought back, coming within two points once again at 19-17 following a kill from junior Sabrina Oncins. AUM continued to fight off the Blazer rally, going on a final 6-3 run to take set one by five, 25-20.
 
Second Set:
The second set kicked off with AUM and VSU trading points back-and-forth until the frame was all knotted up at 5-5. The Warhawks then began to pull away on a five-point run, putting AUM up 10-5 in the blink of an eye. Following a VSU timeout, the Blazers pieced together a massive 7-2 run which put Valdosta State right back in the matchup, 12-12. VSU began to inch ahead on a 5-2 run as senior Mackenzie Murray delivered a decisive kill to put the Blazers up by three, 17-14. Auburn Montgomery called a timeout before constructing a 6-1 run to snatch back the lead as the Warhawks took a two-point lead, 20-18. The Blazers were not out of the set yet as sophomore Lily Glover delivered a service ace, sparking a two-point mini run to tie the set up again at 20-20. However, the AUM offense got back on the same page as the Warhawks pieced together one push to take the second set on a 5-2 run, 25-22.
 
Third Set:
The Blazers caught fire early to start the third set, racing out to a 6-1 lead following a massive kill from Oncins. However, the Warhawks were not down for long, fighting back on a 8-3 run to tie the frame up at 9-9. VSU responded accordingly on an 8-3 run of its own as an AUM attack error put the Blazers up by five, 17-12. Following an Auburn Montgomery timeout, the Warhawks pulled the set back within three at 18-15 before Valdosta State took off, going on a decisive 7-3 run. The Blazers sealed the third set on back-to-back kills from junior Katie Callenberger and senior Christina Pettigrew, claiming the frame 25-18.
 
Fourth Set:
Valdosta State continued to ride the momentum of the third set into set four, taking a narrow 7-4 lead to kick off the frame. The Warhawks continued to strike, pulling within one of the VSU lead, 8-7 before the Blazers began to pull away 11-7. AUM gained an edge near the half-way point, constructing an 8-4 run to knot the frame up at 15-15. Down the stretch, the Warhawks gave Valdosta State one final scare, coming within one of the Blazer lead at 21-20 before the Blazers put together one final push to force a fifth set. Valdosta State went on a 4-1 run to seal the set at 25-21 as Oncins delivered the final dagger on a decisive kill.
 
Fifth Set:
In the concluding fifth set, Auburn Montgomery inched ahead early, going up 6-3 following a Blazer attack error. Following a quick timeout, VSU found its footing, responding with a 3-0 run of its own to tie the set up at 6-6 on a timely service ace from Glover. AUM took back the lead on a quick kill before VSU went on an impressive 4-0 run, taking a 10-7 lead in the set. Valdosta State maintained a three-point lead at 12-9 following a kill from senior Jojo Smith before Auburn Montgomery stormed back to tie the set at 12-12. Despite the Warhawks knocking on the door, the Blazers clutched up, allowing just one more AUM point before Oncins came up big once again, delivering the killing blow to secure the comeback victory in the fifth set, 15-13.
 
Inside the Numbers:

• VSU hit for .227 in the match with a season-high 63 kills on 176 hits and 23 miscues while AUM hit for .161 on 54 kills and 24 attack errors on 186 swings.
• Smith led the match in kills with 17 while also recording her third double-double of the season while Murray recorded a season-high 12 kills.
• Oncins recorded her biggest game for the Blazer so far, racking up 10 kills including the two game-ending kills in sets four and five. She also had 13 digs to record her first double-double of the season.
• Redshirt freshman Avery Mullins made a splash for the Blazers at setter, stepping in for senior Audrey Bennett, recording a match-high 47 assists in her biggest game of the season so far.
• Callenberger tacked on a match-high three blocks including one solo rejection while Pettigrew tallied two with one solo block.
• Senior libero Kaia Baker tallied a match-high 30 digs while fellow-libero Glover racked up 16.
• The Blazers had five service aces in the match, led by Glover with two key aces.
• Greta Corrente led the way for the Warhawks with 17 kills, one ace and 1.5 blocks.

 
Up Next:
The Valdosta State volleyball team will remain in the state of Alabama as they prepare for a busy weekend. The Blazers will continue its three-game road trip on Friday evening at 7 p.m. ET at Alabama Huntsville before closing the weekend out against Montevallo at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon. For information regarding all those matchups as well as all things Blazer volleyball, visit vstateblazers.com and head to the volleyball schedule page.