VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State volleyball team (10-13, 9-5 Gulf South Conference) fell in three sets (17-25, 24-26, 18-25) to the No.16 West Florida Argonauts (20-3, 13-0 GSC) on the road in Pensacola.

The Blazers opened the match with two quick kills from sophomore Eva LaRochelle and junior Asia Montagnani. The teams traded kills on the way to a 4-4 tie, the Blazer knocks coming from senior Sabrina Oncins and Montagnani. Oncins (3), senior Katie Callenberger and graduate Macy Brown sent down kills for the Blazer offense, but the Argos ran ahead 15-10.

Oncins and Callenberger worked together for a block. LaRochelle (2) and Montagnani added kills down the stretch, but UWF pulled away for a 25-17 win.

The offense came out firing in the second set with kills coming from LaRochelle, Oncins, and Callenberger. Oncins dropped in a service ace. Several errors and a kill from senior Ava Young gave VSU an early 10-6 advantage. The offense kept firing with kills from Montagnani, Oncins, and LaRochelle, but UWF fought back to tie the set at 13.

Two kills from Montagnani joined two Argo errors to edge VSU ahead 17-15. Junior Eimy Negron Domenech put down a kill. LaRochelle, Young, and Montagnani followed with more, and the sides found themselves tied once again at 22-22. Montagnani knocked down two more kills on the way to another tie at 24, but the Argos took the next two points to win the set 26-24.

LaRochelle, Montagnani, and Callenberger sent down kills early in the set. Negron Domenech added an ace, and a block from Montagnani pushed VSU ahead 5-4. LaRochelle and sophomore Avery Mullins added more kills and junior Hailey Holder dropped in an ace. Kills from Oncins and Montagnani saw the sides tie at 13.

Callenberger sent down a kill but the Argos ran ahead 21-16. Young sent down another kill and Montagnani sent down another rejection, but the Blazers fell in the set 25-18 and the match 3-0.

Junior Asia Montagnani led the Blazer offense with 11 kills at a strong .476 clip. Montagnani's two total blocks were also the most by a Blazer. Sophomore Eva LaRochelle added eight kills and senior Sabrina Oncins knocked down seven. Sophomore Avery Mullins led the team with 31 assists. 2x Reigning GSC Defensive Player of the Week junior Eimy Negron Domenech recorded a team-leading 12 digs.

Looking Forward

The Valdosta State volleyball team will be back on the road this weekend when they travel to Alabama to take on Montevallo and UAH. The Blazers face Montevallo (9-14, 6-7 GSC) on Friday at 7 p.m. ET and UAH (18-4, 10-3 GSC) on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.

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

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