SAINT LEO, Fla.- The Valdosta State volleyball team ended the first day of the Lions Volleyball Fall Tournament 2-0 after downing UVA Wise 3-0 on Friday afternoon. The Blazers defeated St. Edwards 3-2 earlier Friday morning to open the tournament in thrilling fashion, for the full story click here.
 
Match Information: Valdosta State vs. UVA Wise
Score: Valdosta State 3, UVA Wise 0 (25-22, 27-25, 25-21)
Records: VSU 4-2, WISE 4-2
Location: Saint Leo, Fla. (Marion Bowman Activities Center)
 
First Set:
The Blazers and Cavs opened the first set of the afternoon trading points back and forth with the frame knotted up at 5-5 early. VSU ended up sneaking ahead following a kill from junior Katie Callenberger and a Cavalier attack error to go up 7-5. From there, Valdosta State remained one step ahead of UVA Wise throughout the early goings of the set. Up 13-12, VSU went on a 4-1 mini run to go up 17-13. However, the Cavs would not go away quietly, rallying for four straight points to tie the set up once again at 17-17. The Blazers responded right back with a 4-0 run of their own to go up 21-17 just before the Cavaliers went on a 5-1 run to even things out at 22-22. Despite the pesky resilience of Wise, VSU managed to close the set out on a 3-0 run, 25-22. Valdosta State hit for an impressive .314 on 16 kills and five miscues in 35 swings while UVA Wise hit for .189 with 12 kills and five errors in 35 swings.
 
Second Set:
UVA Wise was off to the races to start the second set, taking an early 11-3 lead in a flash. From there, VSU managed to tally three more points compared to Wise's 5 as the Cavs took a 10-point lead on the Blazers. 16-6. With things looking grim for Valdosta State, the Blazers locked in, going on a massive 11-2 run as UVA Wise's lead was cut down to just two, 18-17. From there, Wise ended up taking a narrow 21-18 lead with a set two victory just four points away. However, VSU answered the call once again, collecting three points to tie the set up for the first time in the set, 21-21. The Blazers and Cavs dueled back and forth with the set point being traded back and forth down the stretch. In the final points of the set, the Blazers faced match point at 25-24 before rallying one more time for a 3-0 run to close out set two and complete a 10 point comeback, 27-25. Valdosta State tallied 18 kills and 10 errors in the set for a .167 percentage while UVA Wise hit for .114 on 12 kills and seven miscues.
 
Third Set:
The third set got off to a competitive start as UVA Wise took a narrow 6-5 edge early. However, VSU put together a 4-0 run to take a three one lead over the Cavs, 9-6. Wise continued to strike back, coming within two of the Blazers 11-9 lead. Valdosta State then went on yet another 4-0 run to take a six-point lead 15-9 following a service ace from senior Christina Pettigrew. UVA Wise answered back down the stretch, going on an 8-3 run to come within one of the Blazer lead, 18-17. The Cavs then went on a 3-1 run to take its first lead since 6-5 at 20-19. One final time the Blazers battened down the hatches, unloading on a 6-1 run to take set three 25-21 for a gritty 3-0 victory. VSU hit for .159 in the final set with 14 kills and seven errors on 44 attempts while Wise hit for .167 with 11 kills and four mishaps in 42 attempts.
 
Inside the Numbers:

 
Up Next:
The Blazer volleyball team will conclude its run in the Lions Volleyball Fall Tournament on Saturday when it takes on Saint Michael's at 11:30 a.m. before taking on hosting-school Saint Leo in the tournament finale on Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. For more information on those matches as well as all things VSU volleyball, visit vstateblazers.com and head to the volleyball schedule page.