VALDOSTA, Ga.- The 2024 Valdosta State volleyball season may have come to an end, but the awards continue to roll in for seniors Kaia Baker and Christina Pettigrew, as both were recognized on Wednesday afternoon as Division II Conference Commissioner's Association All-South Region honorees. Baker, named Gulf South Conference Libero of the Year, earned first team honors while Pettigrew was named to the second team.
 
This marks the first time since 2015 that Valdosta State volleyball has earned multiple All-Region honors as well as the first time the Blazers have had multiple All-Region selections under head coach Kaleigh Zoucha.
 
For her senior season, Baker played and started in all 31 matches at libero, ranking first in the GSC in digs with 579 total, good for 14th in the nation. She also ranked first in the conference in digs per set at 5.03 per set, ranking 32nd in the nation. Baker also racked up a staggering 43 service aces as well as 12 kills and 68 assists. This season, Baker reached a career milestone when she surpassed 1500 career digs against Mississippi College on Nov. 9. She was named the 2024 GSC Libero of the Year and Earned First Team All-Conference Honors prior to being named to the D2CCA All-Region First Team.
 
In her final season as a Blazer, Pettigrew played and started in 30 matches, serving as all-around crucial for the Blazers on both offense and defense. She led the team in total points with 425.5 on the season while hitting a squad-best .304 on 321 kills for 2.87 kills per set. The Copperas Cove, Tex. native also tallied 41 service aces and 11 assists. Defensively, Pettigrew led VSU in blocks with 86 total blocks and 41 solo rejections. She also rallied for 104 digs on the year. In 2024, Pettigrew has surpassed two career milestones, reaching 1000 kills on Oct. 18 in the win at Trevecca Nazarene before tallying her 500th block at Christian Brothers on Oct. 27th. Pettigrew was named to the Gulf South Conference All-Conference First Team for the second season in a row this season prior to being named to the All-South Region Second Team.
 
For the more information on the D2CCA All-South Region team, which featured seven GSC student-athletes, visit the link on the side tab.