VALDOSTA, Ga.- The Valdosta State volleyball team got back in the win column on Friday night, defeating Mississippi College in four sets at The Complex, 3-1. With the win, the Blazers improved to 8-7 overall with a 2-3 mark in the Gulf South Conference while the Choctaws fell to 7-7 on the year, suffering just their second loss in the conference at 5-2.
 
Match Information: Mississippi College at Valdosta State
Score: VSU 3 , MC 1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-19, 25-23)
Records: VSU (8-7, 2-3 GSC) , MC (7-7, 5-2 GSC)
Location: Valdosta, Ga. (The Complex)
 
First Set:
Kicking off the first set in The Complex in nearly three weeks, the Blazers got on a roll in the early goings of the frame, going on a 5-0 run before quickly amassing an eight-point lead at 14-6 later in the set. Valdosta State continued to hold the Choctaws at bay, going up by as many as nine points at 19-10 following a kill from junior Ava Young. In what looked like the final points of the set with VSU leading by 10, 23-13, the Lady Choctaws rallied for seven-straight points to give Blazer Nation quite a scare as MC pulled within three, 23-20. With Mississippi College, gnashing at their heels, the Blazers tentatively closed out the set on a pair of kills from junior Katie Callenberger and senior Jojo Smith, 25-21.
 
Second Set:
The second set looked to be a bit more competitive in the early goings with the frame all knotted up at 3-3 before the Choctaws inched ahead on a 4-0 run, 7-3. Mississippi College then continued to construct its lead, going up 16-6 following a 9-3 stretch from the Choctaws. Although things were looking grim for the Blazers, they weren't out of the fight yet. Like clockwork, VSU went on a much needed 7-0 run to cut the MC lead to just three in a flash, 16-13. The Choctaws responded with four-straight kills to make the pad the lead, 20-13. However, the gritty Blazers battled for five uncontested points to come within two of the Mississippi lead, 20-18. While things were starting to go right for the Blazers in the set, the Choctaws were able to come together and close out the set on a 5-3 run, taking set two, 25-21.
 
Third Set:
In what was the most even set of the match so far, Valdosta State and Mississippi College traded blows back-and-forth in the third set. This continued all the way until the match was all tied up at 11-11. VSU broke the tie on a mini three-point rally, capped off by a kill from Smith to go up 14-11. The Blazers continued to stay two-steps ahead of the Choctaws as Valdosta State closed out the set on one final 6-2 run from 19-17, claiming the advantage in the third set, 25-19.
 
Fourth Set:
Much like the third set, the fourth set proved to be a hard-fought affair with the Blazers taking a narrow 8-6 lead in the early goings of the frame. Later in the set, VSU continued to hold the competitive edge as senior Mackenzie Murray delivered a kill to put the Blazers up 14-12. Mississippi College answered back with a quick 3-0 run to snatch the lead, 15-14. With the lead going back-and-forth down the stretch, Valdosta State took a narrow lead once again following a tip-over kill from redshirt-freshman Avery Mullins, 21-19. The Choctaws brought it within one at 21-20 before Smith delivered a pair of timely kills to give the Blazers the advantage near the end of the frame, 23-20. MC struck back with a 3-0 run to make the set all even at 23-23 before a pair of Choctaw miscues sealed the fourth set for the Blazers, 25-23.
 
Inside the Numbers:

 
Up Next:
The Blazers face a quick turnaround as they are set to host West Alabama on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. in The Complex. Tomorrow's contest also marks the Blazer Volleyball Youth Match where youth eighth grade and under wearing club volleyball uniforms or shirts will get free admission to the match against West Alabama. For more information on that match visit vstateblazers.com and head to the volleyball schedule page.