VALDOSTA, Ga.- The Valdosta State volleyball team (19-10, 13-6 GSC) emerged victorious in a rough-edged, five set victory over Trevecca Nazarene at The Complex on Friday night. With the win, the Blazers took the inaugural season-sweep over Trevecca, also defeating the Trojans in Nashville on Oct. 18, 3-0. Following the win, Valdosta State remained in the third place in the Gulf South Conference rankings with just one regular season match to go before the post-season conference tournament.
 
Match Information: Trevecca Nazarene at Valdosta State
Score: VSU 3, TNU 2 (25-16, 25-18, 22-25, 20-25, 15-9)
Records: VSU (19-10, 13-6 GSC), TNU (13-17, 10-9 GSC)
Location: Valdosta, Ga. (The Complex)
 
First Set:
In the opening set, the Blazers looked to make their presence known early, sparking a 7-3 run kick-started by a massive block from senior Christina Pettigrew and junior Katie Callenberger. The Trojans tacked on two points to make the frame a two-point game before VSU mounted a uncontested 4-0 run, capped off by a blistering ace from Pettigrew. Valdosta State gained some distance on a 4-3 run, following a massive solo rejection from junior Sabrina Oncins to put the Blazers up seven, 15-8. Down the stretch, Valdosta State maintained its seven-point lead over the Trojans on back-to-back kills from senior Jojo Smith and Callenberger, 21-14. The Blazers closed out the set without an issue on a 4-2 run which saw junior Ava Young deliver the final kill for Valdosta State, 25-16.
 
Second Set:
The Trojans looked to get a spark early in the second set, racing out to a similar 7-3 run to open the frame. Valdosta State responded with a quick 3-0 run, capitalizing on TNU offensive errors to come within one of the Trojans lead, 7-6. Trevecca continued to hold onto its lead before Callenberger took over the set with back-to-back kill to tie the set up at 10-10. The Blazers and Trojans traded the lead back and forth until a kill from Emma Titus gave TNU the advantage when the dust settled, 13-12. However, Valdosta State responded accordingly with three-straight points to take its first lead in the set on kills from Oncins and Pettigrew, 15-13. From there, Trevecca never regained the lead in the frame as VSU kept a steady grip on its lead with the match settling at 19-18. The Blazers put an exclamation point on its lead, capping off the set on a massive 6-0 run with Pettigrew delivering the final blow on a kill to go up 2-0 in the match, 25-18.
 
Third Set:
The start of the third set looked somewhat routine with both squads trading blows back-and-forth with the frame coming to a standstill early, 6-6. Trevecca then started to gain some momentum on a 5-1 run to go up 11-7 in the blink of an eye. Valdosta State regained its footing to come back and make the set a one-point affair at 12-11 following a set error by the Trojans. TNU built its lead up to 14-12 following a kill from Addison Cunnagin before the Blazers stormed back to take their first lead of the set on three-straight Trevecca miscues. 16-14. Trevecca retook the lead on a 4-1 run before Callenberger responded in a big way for the Blazers, tallying a kill and a block to go up by one, 19-18. The Trojans naturally rallied for two points to regain the lead before Valdosta State did the same to take the lead right back on a service ace from sophomore Lily Glover, 21-20. The Blazers maintained their lead at 22-21 following a bad set from the Trojans before Trevecca caught fire on a 4-0 run which included three-straight blocks from Reese Payne to force a set four, 25-22.
 
Fourth Set:
Looking to close out the match, the Blazers rallied for an early 6-2 run to kick off the frame. Like clockwork, TNU responded quickly with four-straight points to knot the set up at 6-6. Momentum shifted back-and-forth until the frame remained all tied up at 9-9. However, momentum started to shift more towards the Blazers with Pettigrew delivering the final kill of a 4-1 to give VSU a three-point lead, 13-10. With things looking favorable for VSU, Trevecca struck back on a game-changing 7-2 run to take the lead in convincing fashion, 17-14. Following a timeout by the Blazers, Trevecca built its lead up to four following a massive kill from Emma Titus, 21-17. With the flow of the game now heavily favoring the Trojans, Trevecca took advantage, going on a 4-3 capped off by a clutch service ace to take the Blazers to set five, 25-20.
 
Fifth Set:
With the tide seemingly shifting after Trevecca took two straight sets, Valdosta State remained poised in the moment, getting out to a 4-2 lead in the start of set five following a kill from Oncins. Down the stretch, the Blazers kept their wits about them going on a 5-2 run which included three kills from Smith and a service ace from Pettigrew to go up by five in a flash, 9-4. The Trojans pulled the set back within four following a VSU service error at 10-6 before an electric kill from redshirt-freshman Avery Mullins propelled the Blazers to a 4-0 run, forcing match-point at 14-6. The Trojans put up a fight, rallying for three-straight points before Pettigrew closed out the set with one final kill to seal it for the Blazers, 15-9.
 
Inside the Numbers:

 
Up Next:
The Blazers will close out the 2024 regular season at The Complex when VSU takes on conference rival Lee for Senior Day on Saturday at 1 p.m. For more information on Blazer volleyball, visit vstateblazers.com.