VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State volleyball team (4-11) fought through four competitive sets (26-28, 25-19, 21-25, 22-25) but fell to the visiting Montevallo Falcons (5-10). VSU fell to 3-3 in Gulf South Conference play following the loss.

Danielle Greene put down a kill for the Falcons to open the match. VSU would claim the next six points behind a pair of kills from Sophomore Eva LaRochelle, several errors, and a block by senior Ava Young.The Falcons began to find their rhythm offensively midway through the set, but LaRochelle's third kill and another from sophomore Avery Mullins helped the Blazers stay in front, 11-9.

Montevallo tied things up at 11 and the sides traded the next four points. Blazer kills came from LaRochelle and junior Asia Montagnani and the set was tied, 13-13. LaRochelle knocked down her fifth and sixth kills of the opening set and graduate Macy Brown put down another. Senior Katie Callenberger kept the foot on the pedal with another kill, 17-14 Blazers.

The Falcons notched a service error and freshman Ava Keuntjes responded with an ace. The next four Blazer points came on a huge run of kills by Asia Montagnani to keep things tied at 23. Freshman Madison Kilmer registered a big kill to draw VSU within match point. Mullins added another kill and the Blazers benefitted from a Falcon error, but Montevallo secured the win 28-26 on a service ace.

The second set was led off by a pair of Montevallo blocks for a 2-0 Falcon lead. The Falcons lead the GSC in total blocks to this point in the season. Montevallo would then add a trio of errors. Young followed with a kill to push VSU in front 4-3. The Falcons added another block and a kill from Callenberger tied the set at five. Montagnani and Young knocked down back-to-back kills to set up Keuntjes' second service ace.

Several Montevallo errors made it 11-9 Blazers. Kilmer and LaRochelle put down kills and a Falcon error made it three straight Blazer points to push the lead to 14-11. Montevallo stormed back to tie things up at fourteen when another kill from LaRochelle pushed VSU in front 15-14. Callenberger knocked down a kill and junior Eimy Negron Domenech served an ace, 18-15 Blazers.

Montevallo fought back within a point, but a block from Callenberger started a Blazer run. She followed her own block with a kill then Mullins added another, 21-17. Callenberger and Young put down clutch kills for the Blazer offense in crunch time. Finally, Montagnani sent down another to win the set 25-19 and tie the match 1-1.

Mullins led off the third set with a service ace. The Falcons tied things at one, then back-to-back kills from Kilmer and LaRochelle pushed VSU back in front 3-1. LaRochelle added another kill, but the Falcons found their footing, claiming six of the next seven points for a 9-5 lead. Callenberger sent down two big time kills, then Mullins and Young combined for a block. The offense was supported by several Falcon errors on its way to tying the set at ten.

The lead would change hands six times over a battle of a third set. Montagnani, Kilmer, and senior Sabrina Oncins stepped up for big kills as the Blazers took a 13-12 lead. Oncins added her second, third, and fourth kills of the match quickly after. VSU then leaned in front 18-17 courtesy of a pair of Falcon errors. Kills from Eliza Tyrrell and Mallory Hulsey gave Montevallo back the lead at 21-20. Montagnani (2) and Young added kills down the stretch, but Montevallo claimed the set victory 25-21.

The final set was just as close a battle as the previous three. Montagnani opened the set with a kill. Junior Hailey Holder delivered an ace and more kills from LaRochelle and Callenberger pushed VSU in front 6-4. Mullins put down back-to-back kills when Kilmer added another to extend the lead to 10-5.

Kills from Young and Oncins led to the next two Blazer points. Young served up an ace and Callenberger followed with a kill. The Blazers found themselves ahead 14-7. The Falcons rallied to within 14-12, but Valdosta State followed with a four-point run featuring kills from Oncins (2) and Callenberger to go ahead 18-12.

A Falcon rally was broken up by a service error, but they would follow with three consecutive kills to draw within one. Negron Domenech stopped the bleeding with a kill, but Montevallo continued to apply pressure and jumped ahead 22-20. Montagnani put away two more kills, but VSU could not bring back the set, losing it 25-22 and the match 3-1.

Junior Asia Montagnani's 13 kills led the team and tied to lead the match. Sophomore Eva LaRochelle posted 11 kills at a .261 clip while senior Katie Callenberger tallied 10 at a rate of .280. Senior Sabrina Oncins added seven kills at a team-high .353 clip.

Sophomore Avery Mullins added 44 assists to her team-leading tally of 320. Freshman Ava Keuntjes registered a team-high 20 digs, bringing her season total to 171. Keuntjes also led the team with two service aces. Senior Ava Young's three blocks were the most by a Blazer.

Looking Forward

The Valdosta State volleyball team will travel to play two road GSC opponents next weekend. First, they will take on Mississippi College in Clinton on Friday, Oct. 10^th at 7 p.m. ET. The Blazers will then travel to Livingston to take on West Alabama on Saturday, Oct 11^th at 3 p.m. ET.

Stay up to date on all Blazer news by following @VState_Blazers on Instagram and X and by liking the "Valdosta State Blazers" Facebook page. The Blazer Athletics Mobile App is available on iTunes and Android featuring exclusive content, the latest news and updates, schedules, rosters, gameday notifications, and more.