VALDOSTA, Ga- The Valdosta State volleyball team punched its ticket to the Gulf South Conference Tournament on Saturday night following an emphatic three-set sweep of Alabama Huntsville at The Complex. The Blazers are currently sitting in third in conference standings with a 11-5 record in GSC play (17-9 overall), just behind UAH in second with a 12-4 league record and conference-leader West Florida with a perfect 15-0 record.
The VSU volleyball team also held its first senior night of the season prior to the match in which the Blazers honored three key members of the team including seniors
Christina Pettigrew and
Mackenzie Murray as well as former player and assistant coach
Ramsey Marshall.
Match Information: Alabama Huntsville at Valdosta State
Score: VSU 3 , UAH 0 (25-22, 25-19, 26-24)
Records: VSU (17-9, 11-5 GSC) , UAH (21-5, 12-4 GSC)
Location: Valdosta, Ga. (The Complex)
First Set:
The Blazers kicked off the match with a chip on their shoulder early, taking a 5-3 lead following back-to-back kills from senior
Jojo Smith. VSU continued its offensive assault on a 5-2 run, capped off by a kill and ace from Smith who was on fire early, 10-5. The Blazers and Chargers traded eight points, four apiece, back and forth until Valdosta State maintained a five-point lead, 14-9. UAH then started to figure out a game plan offensively, pulling within two of the VSU lead, 16-14 before outright tying the set up at 17-17 following a Blazer error. The frame remained tied up at 19-19 before a UAH service ace gave way to a 4-1 run by VSU to go up 23-20. The Chargers managed to tally two more points at 23-22 before another UAH service error gave way for an attack error by Huntsville to seal the opening set for Valdosta State, 25-22.
Second Set:
The Chargers looked to respond in a big way in the second set, racing out to a 4-0 lead on defensive miscues by the Blazers. However, Valdosta State regained its bearings as an ace from junior
Sabrina Oncins pulled the Blazers back within one, 4-3. The Blazers and Chargers remained locked in a back-and-forth competition on equal 3-3 runs as UAH held the slight edge, 7-6. The Chargers then proceeded to run the score up on a 5-2 run as Kaila Sisk delivered the final kill of the run for Huntsville, 12-8. However, Valdosta State proved to be battle tested, scoring seven uncontested points to snatch back the lead in explosive fashion, 15-13. Down the stretch, the Blazers and Chargers traded blows with VSU maintaining its two-point lead, 18-16. Valdosta State built off its momentum on a 5-2 run, capped off by a kill from Smith to take a 23-18 lead in a flash. UAH managed to score one final point in the set before Murray and senior
Audrey Bennett closed out the frame on back-to-back kills, 25-19.
Third Set:
UAH sped out to a 4-2 lead to start what would be one of the most back-and-forth frames in recent Complex history. The Blazers answered back with a 3-1 run following an attack error from the Chargers, 5-5. For the next 28 total points, 14 by each team, neither team would be able to take more than a one point lead with the Blazers gaining the lead 11 times, the Chargers taking the lead twice along with 13 total ties. Tied up at 19-19, the Blazers gained an advantage on a pair of kills from junior
Katie Callenberger and Oncins, 21-19. Later in the frame, a kill from Pettigrew kept the Blazers in front at 23-21 before the Chargers stormed back on back-to-back kills, 23-23. Murray delivered a kill to force match point at 24-23 before UAH tied it up again at 24-24. With The 324-strong Complex rocking, UAH missed on an attack before Smith "called game" on a dagger kill to earn the war of a match for Valdosta State, 26-24.
Inside the Numbers:
