LIVINGSTON, Ala.- The Valdosta State volleyball team kicked off its final regular season road trip with a three-set victory over West Alabama on Friday night. With the win, the Blazers completed the season-sweep of the Tigers and improved to 18-9 on the year and 12-5 in Gulf South Conference play.
 
Match Information: Valdosta State at West Alabama
Score: VSU 3 , UWA 0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-20)
Records: VSU (18-9, 12-5 GSC) , UWA (2-25, 0-17)
Location: Livingston, Ala. (Pruitt Hall)
 
First Set (VSU 25, UWA 11)
West Alabama came out ready to strike in the first set of the evening as Berfin Mertcan delivered back-to-back service aces to cap off a 6-3 start for the Tigers. However, the Blazers struck back on a 4-0 run to take the lead at 7-6. From there, the frame was all Valdosta State as the Blazers went on an 8-1 spurt capped off by a massive block from juniors Katie Callenberger and Ava Young to put VSU up by seven, 15-8. UWA racked up a kill before the Blazers pieced together a 5-0 run kick-started by a kill from Callenberger, 20-9. The Blazers suffered a service error before piecing together one final 5-1 run to seal the first set, 25-11. For the set, VSU hit an impressive .667 on just nine kills and one miscue in 12 swings while UWA hit in the negative at -0.182 with six kills and 10 errors in 22 attacks.
 
Second Set (VSU 25, UWA 15)
The second set looked to be a competitive affair with the frame opening up at 7-6 following a VSU attack error. The Blazers then went up in a flash on a massive 7-0 run, capped off by a service ace from junior Sabrina Oncins, 14-6. UWA tallied two quick points on Valdosta State errors before busting out a 5-1 run on four-straight kills from seniors Jojo Smith, Christina Pettigrew and Mackenzie Murray, 19-9. West Alabama put together one last-ditch effort on a 5-1 run to pull within six of the Valdosta State lead, 20-14, before the Blazers racked up four-straight points on two aces from Smith and kills from Young and Murray, 24-14. The Tigers gained one more point on a Blazer service error before Callenberger delivered the dagger on a kill to seal the second set for VSU, 25-15.
 
Third Set (VSU 25, UWA 20)
Valdosta State opened the third frame with a bang, racing out to a 6-1 lead following an early run that included kills from Oncins, Pettigrew and Murray. The Blazers continued to keep their distance down the stretch, maintaining a four-point lead at 12-8. However, the Tigers were chomping at the Blazers' heels as two-straight kills from Jaida Alvin and a VSU attack error put UWA right back in the set, 12-11. With UWA closing in, Valdosta State rallied for a 6-1 run, capped off by an ace from senior Kaia Baker to give the Blazers some distance once again, 18-12. With the set coming down to the wire, the Tigers managed to storm back once again on a resilient 5-0 strike to come within one of the Blazer lead, 18-17. The Blazers came out of a timeout by racking up a pair of points on UWA errors to go up by three, 21-18. West Alabama then delivered a kill to make it a two-score affair at 21-19 before the Blazers gathered three points on a kill from Smith and two miscues, 24-19. At match point, Valdosta State missed on a service error before a block from Smith and Callenberger closed the match out for VSU, 25-20.
 
Inside the Numbers:

 
Up Next:
The Blazers will conclude their two-game road trip in Clinton, Miss. on Saturday as Valdosta State is set to square off with Mississippi College in a big afternoon match-up set for 3 p.m. ET. For more information on that match, be sure to visit vstateblazers.com and head to the volleyball schedule page.