SAINT LEO, Fla.- Senior Jojo Smith achieved a career milestone on Saturday afternoon when she reached 1000 kills in the 3-0 victory over St. Michael's. In the afternoon showdown, she recorded 13 kills and 11 digs for her second double-double of the young season. Overall, the Jefferson, Ga. native currently sits at 1,006 kills in four seasons with the Blazers and ranks eighth all-time in Valdosta State history.
 
Match Information: Valdosta State vs. St. Michael's
Score: Valdosta State 3, St. Michael's 0 (25-9, 25-20, 25-20)
Records: VSU 5-2, SMC 2-4
Location: Saint Leo, Fla. (Marion Bowman Activities Center)
 
First Set:
The Start of the first set painted the picture of a competitive frame with the Blazers and Purple Knights trading blows back and forth until the set was all knotted up at 6-6. However, VSU managed to put together an immaculate 14-1 run which included seven kills and two aces to go up 13 at 20-7. Saint Michael's managed to score two more points in the set before Smith closed out the set with a service ace to cap off one final 4-0 run, 25-0. The Blazers hit for .267 with 12 kills and just four errors in 30 swings. Meanwhile, the Purple Knights hit for -.129 with three kills and seven miscues in 31 attempts.
 
Second Set:
The second set started off competitive with Valdosta State taking a narrow four-point lead 10-6 following a kill from senior Mackenzie Murray. VSU then went on a 6-0 run capped off by a massive kill from Smith to go up by double-digits at 16-6. The Purple Knights did not back down, going on a 10-3 run to get right back in the set, 19-16. The Blazers continued to stay one step ahead of SMC, sitting at 23-20 before Smith delivered another kill, 24-20. Senior Kaia Baker sealed the set with a service ace to square away the second set, 25-20. VSU hit for .143 in the frame with 12 kills and six errors in 42 attempts while SMC hit a slightly better .184 with 10 kills and 3 errors in 38 swings.
 
Third Set:
The third set proved to be the most competitive set of the match with the Blazers and Purple Knights trading the lead back and forth until Saint Michael's held a small 12-10 edge following a VSU attack error. Valdosta State then went on a 4-1 run to snatch back the lead at 14-13. SMC then went on a 5-0 run to take its biggest lead of the afternoon at four , 18-14. VSU clawed its way back into the set, building a 4-2 rally to come within two of the Purple Knights' 20-18 lead. Down two, Valdosta State locked in, going on an uncontested 7-0 run to secure the match victory in set three, 25-20. In the final set of the afternoon, Valdosta State hit for .114 on 12 kills and eight errors in 35 swings, hitting a match-low .114. Saint Michael's closed the set out by delivering nine kills and six miscues over 33 swings, hitting a slightly-lower .091.
 
Inside the Numbers:

• The Blazers hit for .159 overall in the match, hitting for .168 on 36 kills and 18 errors in 107 swings. The Purple Knights finished hitting .059 on 22 kills and 16 miscues on 102 attempts.
• Notably, Smith finished the match with 13 kills to lead both squads in the category while senior Christina Pettigrew finished with eight and Murray tallied seven.
• Defensively, Pettigrew recorded a match-high three blocks while Baker finished the match with a match-high 23 digs.
• Senior setter Audrey Bennett achieved a match-high 33 assists in the match as she is 87 assists away from 2000 career assists.
• The Blazers delivered a season-high 11 aces in the match with Baker recording five and Smith recording four.

 
Up Next:
The Blazers are set to close out the Lions Volleyball Fall Tournament Saturday evening when they take on the hosting-school Saint Leo at 6:30 p.m. For more information on that match and all things Valdosta State volleyball, visit vstateblazers.com and go to the volleyball schedule page.