VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State volleyball team is set to host two matches versus Gulf South Conference opponents at the Complex this weekend. First, the Blazers will take on Trevecca Nazarene on Friday, Oct. 17^th at 6 p.m. The team will then turn their attention to Lee (Tenn.) on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Blazers (6-11) return to the Complex following a successful road trip where they earned back-to-back victories over Mississippi College and West Alabama. VSU moved to 5-3 in conference play following the wins.

Junior Asia Montagnani led the team with 31 kills and 34.5 points over the two matches. Sophomore Eva LaRochelle (23 kills) and senior Sabrina Oncins (21 kills) also put together strong performances offensively. Sophomore Avery Mullins notched 84 assists over the road trip. Mullins' 6.73 assists per set is the fourth highest pace in the conference.

Junior Eimy Negron Domenech reclaimed the team lead in digs, notching 47 at a rate of 5.88 per set over last weekend's road trip. Negron Domenech's 3.57 digs per set is the ninth fastest pace in the GSC. Senior Ava Young added 11 total blocks over the pair of matches. Young has posted a team-high 39.0 total blocks so far this season.

Valdosta State volleyball has only faced Trevecca Nazarene (15-3) twice in program history. The Blazers earned a pair of victories over the Trojans last season in what was TNU's first year in the GSC. The Trojans had a solid GSC debut, finishing 10-10 in conference play last season and 14-19 overall.

Trevecca Nazarene has improved from their solid GSC debut season strongly so far in 2025. They enter tomorrow's contest riding a 10-match winning streak and a perfect 9-0 record in GSC play. The Trojans are clicking on all cylinders thus far with several conference statistical leaders on the roster. Kaitlyn Grant leads the GSC in hitting percentage with 199 kills at a .372 clip. Skias Hainline leads the conference in both total assists (660) and assists per set (10.31). Addison Cunnagin's 215 kills are the second-highest tally in the GSC.

The Blazers will prepare for a quick turnaround after Friday's match as they host Lee (10-8) at 1 p.m. on Saturday. VSU trails the all-time head-to-head series vs Lee by a tally of ten victories to Lee's 12. The Flames carry a three match winning streak vs VSU into the contest, having defeated the Blazers in five sets the last time they met at the 2024 GSC tournament in Pensacola.

The Flames ride a winning streak of their own into the weekend, having defeated five straight opponents on the way to a 6-3 record in GSC play. Lee's offense is defined by efficiency. Esthefany Rabit's .319 hitting percentage is the fifth-most efficient pace in the GSC. Lee also rosters the ninth and tenth most efficient hitters in the GSC in Sophia Lippert (.290) and Payton Danley (.289).

Rabit has been equally effective for the Flames defensively. Her 66.0 total blocks are the second most in the GSC. Sara Palumbo's 26 service aces are the fifth-highest tally in the conference, while Izzy Denton is sixth in the conference with 264 digs.

Looking Forward

The Valdosta State volleyball team will take on its first repeat opponent of the season on Tuesday, Oct. 21^st in Montgomery, Ala. when they battle the AUM Warhawks at 7 p.m. ET. The Blazers will then return to the Complex on Thursday, Oct. 24^th at 5 p.m. to host another repeat opponent in Christian Brothers. They will close out next week's slate on Friday against Union (Tenn.) at 6 p.m.

Check the volleyball schedule page on vstateblazers.com for links to live stats and streaming. 

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