NASHVILLE, Tenn.- The Valdosta State volleyball volleyball team claimed its third-straight victory on Friday night when it downed Gulf South Conference newcomer Trevecca Nazarene in three sets (25-17, 27-25, 25-22). Senior Christina Pettigrew also reached a career highlight in the contest, recording her 1000th career kill, becoming the second Blazer this season to achieve the honor along with senior Jojo Smith. Pettigrew currently sits at 614 kills in three-seasons as a Blazer and has been a driving force for this Valdosta State team since 2022. With the victory, the Blazers claimed their tenth win of the season, sitting at 10-7 with a 4-3 record in the GSC while Trevecca Nazarene fell to 8-12 overall with a 5-4 conference record.
 
Match Information: Valdosta State at Trevecca Nazarene
Score: VSU 3, TNU 0 (25-17, 27-25, 25-22)
Records: VSU (10-7, 4-3 GSC) , TNU (8-12, 5-4 GSC)
Location: Nashville, Tenn. (Trojan Fieldhouse)
 
First Set:
In the opening set of the match, the Blazers and Trojans battled back and forth until the frame was all even at 3-3. From there a kill from junior Sabrina Oncins broke the tie as Valdosta State went on a 6-2 run to take a notable 9-5 lead early. The Blazers continued to strike, using a TNU set error to take their biggest lead of the frame so far at six points, 14-8. Despite the Trojans not going away without a fight, VSU held the edge down the stretch to take a seven point lead following a 7-5 run, 20-13. Trevecca brought it back to a five-point affair at 20-15 before the Blazers sealed the set on a final 5-2 run, capitalized by the set-ending kill from Pettigrew, 25-17.
 
Second Set:
Trevecca Nazarene looked to get right at the start of the second set, getting out to a 5-2 lead out of the gate. However, Valdosta State would not go away quietly as the Blazers put together an impressive 5-1 run to jump in front following a kill from senior Jojo Smith, 7-6. The Trojans tacked on another point to tie up the set at 7-7 before the Blazers mounted a 4-0 run to take their largest lead of the frame at the time, 11-7. VSU continued to fend off Trevecca down the stretch, going up by six following a kill from Mackenzie Murray, 15-9. The Trojans then went on a game-shifting 6-2 run to make the set a two-point game in a flash, 17-15. With TNU knocking at their door, the Blazers squeaked out to a five-point lead as a kill from junior Ava Young put VSU up 21-16. With things starting to look grim, the Trojans battled back on a massive 8-1 run to snatch the lead from the Blazers in crunch time and force set-point at 24-22. Not wanting to let the set get away from them, Pettigrew and senior Audrey Bennett tallied a pair of clutch points to tie the set up at 24-24. Trevecca went up by one at 25-24 before Valdosta State scored three uncontested points to take the war of a set with Bennett getting the credit for the set-ending kill, 27-25.
 
Third Set:
Following what was a tight-knit second set, the Blazers and Trojans traded blows at the start of set three until the contest was all tied up at 5-5. A few points later and the set remained tied at 7-7 until the Trojans mounted a game-shaking 6-1 run to go up 14-8. Despite going down by six, Valdosta State began to get on a roll, out-scoring Trevecca down the stretch 8-4 to come back within two of TNU lead, 18-16. With the set coming down the crunch time, the Trojans continued to fend off the Blazers, maintaining their two-point lead until a kill from Smith and a TNU attack error tied the set up once again at 21-21. With the Blazers now firmly in control of the set, Trevecca managed to score one final point before a barrage of three-straight VSU kills came at the hands of Smith to force match point, 24-22. The Trojans attempted to put together one last effort to prohibit the Valdosta State victory but that quickly fizzled out as a Trevecca attack error sealed the third set for the Blazers, 25-22.
 
Inside the Numbers:

 
Up Next:
The Blazers will finish up this weekend's Tennessee road trip at Lee when they take on the Flames at 2 p.m. For live stats and streaming of that match, be sure to visit vstateblazers.com and head to the volleyball schedule page.