ST. LEO, Fla.- The Valdosta State volleyball team kicked off the Lions Volleyball Fall Tournament in exciting fashion, defeating St. Edward's in five sets, 3-2 Friday morning.
 
Match Information: Valdosta State vs. St. Edward's
Score: Valdosta State 3, St. Edwards 2 (25-23, 20-25, 19-25, 25-22, 15-11)
Records: VSU 3-2, SEU 3-2
Location: Saint Leo, Fla. (Marion Bowman Activities Center)
 
First Set:
VSU and SEU kicked off the first set of the morning by trading points back and forth until back-to-back kills from junior Ava Young put the Blazers up by four, 9-5. However, the Hilltoppers continued to scratch and claw their way back into the set, going on a 6-2 run to take the lead, 12-11. Following a Blazer timeout, St. Edward's went on a 5-3 run to build its biggest lead of the set at 17-14. VSU battled back as a kill from junior Katie Callenberger sealed a 4-0 run for the Blazers, putting them back in front 18-17. With the set coming down to the wire, Valdosta State inched ahead following a kill from senior Jojo Smith, 23-20. The Hilltoppers managed to make it a one-point game at match point before senior Mackenzie Murray delivered the final blow on a kill to give Valdosta State set one, 25-23. VSU hit for .270 in the set with 13 kills and three errors on 37 swings while St. Edward's hit for .255 on 15 kills and two mistakes in 51 attempts.
 
Second Set:
The second set was all St. Edward's to start as the Hilltoppers rushed out to a 7-1 lead in the blink of an eye. Out of a timeout, VSU scored a quick few points before SEU continued to build its lead to 12 at 16-4. However, the Blazers put up a fight as a kill from senior Kaia Baker kicked off a 5-0 run for VSU to pull the set within six, 17-11. Down the stretch, Valdosta State managed to pull within four at 19-15. While the Blazers continued to put up a fight, the stellar start by the Hilltoppers was too much to overcome as St. Edward's took the second set, 25-20. For the set, Valdosta State hit for just .077 on nine kills and six errors in 39 attempts while St. Edward's hit for a slightly improved .286 on 14 kills and four errors in 35 swings.
 
Third Set:
Both the Blazers and Hilltoppers were locked in to start the third set, trading points until the set was all knotted up at 7-7. St. Edward's then inched out to a 10-7 lead following a pair of kills and a service ace to prompt a VSU timeout. Still holding a narrow lead, SEU continued to go on mini-runs while holding the Blazers to a point here and there. The Hilltoppers went up by as much as seven points at 21-14. Valdosta State continued to fight, going on a 5-3 run to cut the SEU lead to five at set point, 24-19. However, a service error sealed set two for St. Edward's as the Hilltoppers to a set lead on the Blazers, 2-1. The Blazers delivered 10 kills in the set with five miscues in 35 swings, hitting for .143 compared to the Hilltoppers' .265 on 13 kills and four errors in 34 attempts.
 
Fourth Set:
In the fourth set, the Blazers and Hilltoppers duked it out similar to previous sets with the set tied up at 5-5. VSU then sparked a 4-0 run to take a 9-5 lead in a heartbeat to prompt a SEU timeout. The Hilltoppers fought to bring the set within striking distance but the Blazers refused to be denied as a kill from Smith kept the Blazers up by four later in the set, 13-9. The VSU offense continued to go on a run, building its lead up to six at one point, 19-13. The Hilltoppers managed to make it a one point set at 19-18 following a 5-0, but the Blazers did not let this faze them as senior Christina Pettigrew sealed the set for the Blazers on a dominant kill, 25-22. Similar to set three, the Blazers hit for .143 in set four on 12 kills and six mistakes in 42 swings while the Hilltoppers hit for a match low .128 on 11 kills and five errors in 47 attempts.
 
Fifth Set:
In the fifth and final set of the match, the Blazers blitzed the Hilltoppers, speeding out to a 7-1 lead in a run capped off by a solo rejection from Callenberger. Later in the set, St. Edwards remained vigilant, going on a 5-0 run to bring the set within three at 13-10. However, the Blazers took care of business allowing just one more St. Edward's point before Pettigrew closed out the match with a kill and a block assist, 15-11.
 
Inside the Numbers:

 
Up Next:
The Blazers will continue their run in the Lions Volleyball Fall Tournament this afternoon when they take on UVA Wise at 3:30 p.m. For live stats and streaming of that matchup, stay tuned to vstateblazers.com.