MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The Valdosta State volleyball team (10-14, 9-6 Gulf South Conference) dropped a five-set battle (20-25, 25-17, 25-17, 24-26, 5-15) on the road against the Montevallo Falcons (10-14, 7-7 GSC).

Senior Katie Callenberger, junior Asia Montagnani, and junior Eimy Negron Domenech sent down early kills on the way to a 6-4 Blazer lead. Seniors Sabrina Oncins and Ava Young put away the next Blazer kills, but UM ran ahead 14-11. Several errors and a kill from freshman Madison Kilmer cut the lead to 16-12.

Sophomore Avery Mullins sent down a kill, the sixth Blazer to do so in the set, then Montagnani fired down a trio of kills to close the gap to 20-17. Mullins and Oncins worked together for a late block while Young and Montagnani added another kill each, but the Falcons escaped the first set 25-20.

The Falcons stormed ahead 4-0 in the second set, but the Blazers quickly fired back. Young sent down back-to-back kills then Montagnani followed with two of her own. Graduate Macy Brown dropped in an ace when another kill from Montagnani gave VSU a 6-5 advantage. Oncins and Mullins put away the next two kills then freshman Ava Keuntjes served an ace.

Callenberger sent down a kill and junior Hailey Holder followed with an ace of her own, 13-8 Blazers. LaRochelle (2), Mullins, and Oncins put down kills to power the Blazer offense into the late stages of the set. Brown added another ace and suddenly, the Blazers led 21-11. Brown added a kill down the stretch and the Blazers benefitted from several UM errors, eventually taking a 25-17 to tie the match 1-1.

Montagnani (2), Callenberger, and Young opened the third set with big kills. Oncins then dropped in back-to-back aces to give VSU a 6-4 lead. Callenberger and Young added another kill each, then Brown sent down two consecutive kills of her own. Several UM errors gave VSU a 13-11 advantage.

Oncins sent down three huge kills then teamed up with Young on back-to-back combined blocks. Negron Domenech, Oncins, and Callenberger added huge kills down the stretch. Finally, Mullins sent down another to finish the set 25-17 and take a 2-1 lead in the match.

Callenberger (3), Brown (3), Montagnani (2), Oncins (2), and Young continued firing away for the Blazer attack with kills early in the fourth set. The sides found themselves knotted in another close set, 13-13. Callenberger sent down a rejection and followed it with yet another kill. Brown (2) and Oncins followed with more of their own, 23-17. Montagnani drew the Blazers within set and match point on a kill at 24-19, but the Falcons stormed back to win the set 26-24 and tie the match 2-2.

Brown, Callenberger, and Montagnani sent down one kill each for the Blazers in the final set. VSU also benefitted from a pair of errors. Ultimately, UM pulled away to take the final set 15-5, pulling off a comeback to win the match 3-2.

Junior Asia Montagnani led the team with 14 kills. Seniors Katie Callenberger and Sabrina Oncins followed closely with 10 kills each. Graduate Macy Brown added nine kills and dropped in two service aces, a total tied with Oncins for a team high. Oncins also led the team in blocks, sending down four.

Sophomore Avery Mullins led the Blazer offense with 44 assists at a rate of 8.80 per set. Mullins added four kills and 12 digs. Junior Eimy Negron Domenech continued her reign as GSC Defensive Player of the Week by adding a team-high 22 digs in the loss.

Looking Forward

The Valdosta State volleyball team prepares for a third consecutive road match following a quick turnaround when they travel to Huntsville to take on UAH (19-4, 11-3 GSC) tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET. The Blazers then return to the Complex next Friday, Nov. 7^th where they host West Alabama at 6 p.m.

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

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