VALDOSTA, Ga. - The Valdosta State volleyball team (7-11) handed Trevecca Nazarene (15-4) its first loss of Gulf South Conference play tonight at the Complex. The Trojans rode a ten-match winning streak into the Complex, losing to the Blazers in a five-set thriller(25-23, 14-25, 25-23, 9-25, 15-13).

The Trojans posted the first two points before senior Sabrina Oncins and junior Asia Montagnani put away back-to-back kills to tie the match 2-2. Sophomore Avery Mullins knocked down a kill and Montagnani added another. The Blazers benefitted from several errors early but trailed 12-9. 

Mullins served an ace then Oncins teamed up with senior Ava Young for a block. Oncins and Young were also responsible for the next two Blazer kills to keep VSU within 14-13. Senior Katie Callenberger put down a huge kill and was followed by a service ace from freshman Ava Keuntjes. Mullins put away another kill but the Trojans fought back, claiming a 20-17 lead. 

Sophomore Eva LaRochelle took over late in the set, putting away a flurry of three consecutive kills then teaming up with Young for a block. The surge powered VSU ahead for the first time, 21-20. LaRochelle put down yet another kill to contribute to a fifth consecutive Blazer point to push the lead to 22-21. 

Kayla Bullard responded for TNU by putting down a kill then stepping up for a block to retake the lead 23-22. The season-high Complex crowd would rally behind the Blazers as they took the final three points of the set, led off by an electric kill from Montagnani. The Trojans recorded an ace, then junior Eimy Negron Domenech dropped in a service ace to secure the 25-23 victory.

Oncins and LaRochelle knocked down two kills each early in the second set. Montagnani added a block, but the Trojans led 15-7 at the midway point. The Blazers would benefit from kills from Young and freshman Kinsley Timmons later in the set. Ultimately, the Trojans led the second set wire-to-wire for a 25-14 win to tie the match at 1-1.

The Trojans jumped out to another 2-0 lead in the third set. The Blazers rallied quickly behind a six-point run featuring a trio of aces from graduate Macy Brown along with kills from Oncins (2) and Young (1). Another kill from Young and the first from Negron Domenech pushed the VSU advantage to 8-3. The Trojan offense quickly stormed back, jumping in front 10-9 after several errors both ways.

The Trojans put away back-to-back kills. Negron Domenech responded with her second and third kills of the set on her way to a new career high. Brown then served up her fourth and fifth aces of the match to set a new career high of her own to power VSU back ahead 15-14. Trevecca claimed six of the next seven points to go ahead 20-16, the lone Blazer nod coming on a kill from Montagnani. 

The Trojans recorded an error then Oncins dropped in an ace to cut the deficit to 20-18. Trevecca made a trio of crucial errors and LaRochelle put down yet another kill. Mullins put down her third kill of the match to push VSU ahead 23-22 in crunchtime. Oncins and Young followed with back-to-back kills to win an intense third set 25-23.

Young and Oncins (2) started the fourth set strongly with kills for the VSU offense. Timmons recorded her second of the day and the Blazers benefitted from several errors, but TNU jumped ahead 14-6. LaRochelle added two more kills to her tally then Negron Domenech recorded her season-high fourth of the match. The Trojan offense would catch fire and win the fourth set 25-9.

The season-high crowd of 401 were on their feet throughout the final set. A Trojan error and a kill from Montagnani pushed the Blazers in front 2-0. The Trojans quickly tied things at two, then a block from Montagnani edged VSU ahead 3-2. Callenberger and Montagnani stepped up for huge kills as the sides battled to a 5-5 tie. Callenberger knocked down a block to edge VSU ahead 6-5. Young knocked down two kills in succession to extend the lead to 8-5 at the halfway point in the set.

The teams traded big swings, rallying back and forth throughout a close final set. The Blazer offense was powered by kills from LaRochelle, Oncins, and Montagnani as it held on to its advantage, 11-7. The Trojans battled back with several kills and blocks, but a kill from Young kept VSU ahead 12-9. The sides traded every point the rest of the way, with Callenberger knocking down a kill and LaRochelle putting away the game winner to take the set 15-13 and the match 3-2.

Junior Eimy Negron Domenech set two career-high marks with 36 digs and four kills on the day. Graduate Macy Brown served five aces, a season-high of her own. Senior Ava Young and junior Asia Montagnani tied to lead the team with two blocks each.

Sophomore Eva LaRochelle led a strong all-around showing from the group of Blazer kill leaders with 11 on a .212 clip. Seniors Sabrina Oncins, Ava Young, and junior Asia Montagnani followed with ten, nine, and eight respectively. Sophomore Avery Mullins led the team with 40 assists and added three kills.

Looking Forward

The Valdosta State volleyball team carries a three-match winning streak into tomorrow's clash with Lee University at the Complex at 1 p.m. The team will then be back in action at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21^st when they travel to take on Auburn-Montgomery.

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

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