CLEVELAND, Tenn.- The Valdosta State volleyball team dropped a hard-fought battle of a match at Lee Saturday afternoon in five sets (25-21, 17-25, 25-20, 29-31, 13-15). Following the defeat the Blazers now sit at 10-8 with a 4-4 record in the Gulf South Conference while the Flames improved to 12-10 overall and 6-4 in conference play.
 
Match Information: Valdosta State at Lee
Score: Lee 3, VSU 2 (25-21, 17-25, 25-20, 29-31, 13-15)
Records: VSU (10-4, 4-4 GSC) , Lee (12-10, 6-4 GSC)
Location: Cleveland, Tenn. (Paul Dana Walker Arena)
 
First Set:
The Flames got out to a fast start to open the match, squeaking out to a three-point lead following a service ace, 9-6. Still down by three at 12-9, The Blazers continued to fight, formulating a 3-0 run to close the gap as senior Audrey Bennett delivered the tie-breaking kill, 12-12. VSU and Lee continued to duel, trading points back-and-forth until the frame remained tied up at 15-15. The Blazers then kicked things up a notch, putting together a set-breaking 5-0 run that ended with an ace from redshirt-freshman Avery Mullins to go up 20-15 in the blink of an eye. With Valdosta State now having a firm grasp on the set, the Flames managed to score just six more points in the frame before the Blazers swiftly closed the door on the set, 25-21.
 
Second Set:
After dropping the first set, Lee responded in a major way, racing out to a sizable 17-2 lead in the blink of an eye. Despite being down by 15, the Blazers showed some fight, going on a 6-4 run to cut the Flames' lead to 13, 21-8. Valdosta State continued to battle, putting together a 9-2 rally to bring the set back within six, 23-17. However, the fast start by the Flames was just too much to overcome as Lee tallied two more points to seal the set and tie the match at 1-1, 25-17.

Third Set:
The Blazers kicked off the third set by jumping out in front early at 12-7 following a kill from Mullins. Coming down the stretch, Valdosta State continued to maintain a decent lead as a service ace from senior Kaia Baker and a pair of kills from seniors Jojo Smith and Christina Pettigrew gave VSU a six-point lead, 21-15. With the frame winding down, Lee managed to make the set a three-point affair at 23-20 before Smith delivered the dagger kill to go up 2-1 in the match, 25-20
 
Fourth Set:
Valdosta State and Lee remained locked in a stalemate to open the fourth set at 6-6 until the Flames took a narrow 9-6 lead following a 3-0 run. Lee continued to hold the lead, going up 12-7 before a kill from Pettigrew ended a 3-0 run to come within two of the Flames lead, 12-10. The Flames delivered a pair of kills to go back up by four at 14-10 before the Blazers mounted a 5-1 run to tie the set up at 15-15. Down the stretch, the Blazers and Flames went back and forth until the set remained tied at 18-18. Lee jumped ahead 21-18 before Valdosta State took their first lead of the set at 24-21 following a massive 6-0 run. With the Flames facing set-point, Lee battened down the hatches putting together a 4-0 run to snatch back the lead at 25-24. With the set going past 25s, the Blazers had a pair of chances to take the match at 27-26 and 28-27 but were unable to capitalize as Lee earned the comeback victory, 31-29, to force a fifth set.
 
Fifth Set:
In what proved to be a competitive fifth set, VSU took an early edge, taking advantage of a Lee block error to go up by three, 6-3. Lee stormed right back on a 3-0 rally to tie the set up at 6-6. The Flames continued to capitalize on their momentum, going on a 7-3 run to take over the set in a flash, 13-9. Not out of the fight yet, the Blazers outscored the Flames 4-1 as Lee held the match-point at 14-13. Unfortunately for VSU, Lee delivered one final kill to seal the set and take what was a war of a match, 15-13.
 
Inside the Numbers:

 
Up Next:
The Blazers are set to return home to host GSC-foe Auburn Montgomery on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. in The Complex before returning to the Volunteer state to face Union and Christian Brothers next weekend. For more information on those matches and all things Valdosta State volleyball visit vstateblazers.com and head to the volleyball schedule page.