VALDOSTA, Ga. - The Valdosta State volleyball team (12-17, 11-9 Gulf South Conference) is set to host an opening round match of the Gulf South Conference tournament as the six seed tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 18^th at 6 P.M. at the Complex against No. 7 Christian Brothers (13-16, 8-10 GSC).

The Lady Bucs of Christian Brothers present an interesting challenge. After CBU started 3-10 in GSC play, the team has won their last five matches, with several key wins over top GSC opponents in recent weeks to claw back into the postseason. The Blazers swept the Lady Bucs twice this year, first back in September in Memphis and more recently at the Complex in October.

Historically, the Blazers are 16-11 in their last 27 contests with Christian Brothers since 2006. The Blazers have won their last nine matches with the Lady Bucs dating back to 2021. VSU will aim to bring its winning streak in the series to ten with Tuesday's postseason match.

The Blazer defense has been led by a breakout effort from 4x consecutive Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Week junior Eimy Negron Domenech in recent weeks. The libero has averaged 4.91 digs per set on the season, a total good for the second most in the GSC. Negron Domenech offered another strong effort on the road over the weekend with 53 digs in two matches for a pace of 6.63 digs per set.

Seniors Ava Young and Katie Callenberger have been the most consistent impact defenders at the net, placing closely in first and second on the team with 70 and 66 blocks respectively.

Offensively, the Blazers have benefited from a late season resurgence from graduate Macy Brown. Brown, a former NE-10 Conference Player of the Year, has 72 kills in her last five matches. She put away 30 kills in two matches last week at a strong .383 clip, leading to her first Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Week recognition. Brown also leads VSU in aces with 38 on the year.

The Blazer attack is also led by junior Asia Montagnani, whose 227 kills are the most on the team. She is followed closely by senior Sabrina Oncins who has sent down 220, including a season-high 19 at Lee on Saturday. Sophomore Avery Mullins has compiled 833 assists over the year, the third-highest total in the GSC. Her 7.93 assists per set are also good for third in the league.

The Christian Brothers Lady Bucs recent resurgence has been led by an efficient hitting effort in recent weeks with standout performances from Addison Waggoner and Ella Schumacher. The pair has sent down 69 and 65 kills each in their last five matches. Defensively, Sarah Helms has sent down 16 blocks in the same five matches, adding 44 kills of her own. Libero Sophia Nowacki has gathered an impressive 117 digs at a rate of 5.85 per set during the stretch.

Show out at the Complex this Tuesday, Nov. 18^th at 6 P.M. and be LOUD in support of your Blazers! Click here to purchase tickets for the match online.

The winner of the match will advance to the second round of the conference championship and play the University of Alabama in Huntsville on Friday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET in Pensacola, Fla., on the campus of the University of West Florida.

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