MONTEVALLO, Ala.- The Valdosta State volleyball team dropped its final match of an extended Alabama road trip at Montevallo on Saturday afternoon in a hard-fought contest, 3-2 . Valdosta State now sits at 7-7 on the season with a 1-3 record in Gulf South Conference play while Montevallo improved to 6-10 on the year with a 3-3 mark in league play.
 
Match Information: Valdosta State at Montevallo
Score: UM 3 , VSU 2  (25-20, 25-16, 25-23, 26-24, 15-9)
Records: UM (6-10, 3-3 GSC) , VSU (7-7, 1-3 GSC)
Location: Montevallo, Ala. (Central State Bank Arena)
 
First Set:
Montevallo kicked off the opening set by earning the edge at 5-3 following a 5-0 stretch by the Falcons. However, VSU went on a three-point run to take back the lead 6-5 following a kill from senior Christina Pettigrew. The Falcons then caught fire, going on a massive 10-3 run to take a six-point lead at 15-9 later in the frame. Down the stretch, VSU and UM were fairly equal in their point production at 8-7 with Montevallo holding the edge. With Montevallo leading 23-16, The Blazers fought back on a 4-0 run before the Falcons closed out the frame with two final uncontested points, 25-20.
 
Second Set:
The Falcons opened the second set similarly to the first, racing out to a 5-2 lead before the Blazers battled back to come within one of the UM lead, 6-5. VSU went on a 3-0 run to take the 8-6 lead following an ace from sophomore Lily Glover. Montevallo answered back with two points to knot the set up at 8-8 before Valdosta State blasted back with another 3-point run to take an 11-8 lead. VSU then took its largest lead of the set at 16-10 following a 5-2 run from the Blazers. Valdosta State allowed just six more point from UM in the contest as senior Kaia Baker closed out the fairly one-sided frame with a service ace, 25-16.
 
Third Set:
UM was off to the races to start the third set, amassing a 12-6 lead in the blink of an eye, capped off by a Falcons service ace. VSU stormed back on a 4-0 run, kickstarted by a kill from junior Katie Callenberger to bring the Blazers within two of the Montevallo lead, 12-10. The Falcons started to build some distance on a set-breaking 8-2 run to take over the frame, 20-12. However, the Blazers were not out of the fight yet, battling back on a 11-4 stretch that saw VSU come within one at 24-23. Unfortunately for Valdosta State, their immaculate run was cut short by a final kill from Montevallo that closed the door on a Blazer comeback bid, 25-23.
 
Fourth Set:
The fourth set had possibly the most competitive start of the match with both teams trading blows until the frame was all squared up at 8-8. The Blazers broke the tie with three-straight points before the Falcons swiftly responded with three points of their own to knot the set up once again at 11-11. VSU inched ahead on a 4-1 run, kickstarted by a kill from senior Mackenzie Murray to put the Blazers up 15-12. UM then swooped in, responding with a 7-1 run to snatch the lead, 19-16. VSU struck back with a 5-0 run before Montevallo responded as both teams dealt blows until the set came down to the wire at 24-24. The Blazers went ahead on a UM attack error, 25-24, before senior Jojo Smith delivered the set-clinching dagger on a decisive kill to seal set four, 26-24.
 
Fifth Set:
In the final deciding set, the Blazers and Falcons dueled to open the frame with Montevallo taking a narrow 4-3 advantage. Montevallo then began to build its lead, getting up to 6-3 following a VSU attack error. The set remained close down the stretch with Valdosta State trailing by just one at 9-8 before a dominant 6-1 Montevallo run closed out the frame and ended the hard-fought match, 15-9.
 
Inside the Numbers:

 
Up Next:
Valdosta State volleyball will be back in action at The Complex next weekend when it hosts a pair of Gulf South Conference opponents in Mississippi College and West Alabama on Friday and Saturday. To stay up to date with all things Valdosta State volleyball, head to vstateblazers.com and go to the volleyball schedule page.