VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta State junior Samarion Bond and sophomore Alina Martin were named Steel's Jewelry Blazer Athletes of the Week.  
 
Bond, a native of Lilburn, Ga., went 14 of 20 from the field (.700), 2 of 2 from beyond the arc and 4 of 6 from the line as the Blazers split the opening weekend of Gulf South Conference play.  Bond averaged 17.0 points to lead the team and 4.5 rebounds per game, while he had one assist, two blocks and two steals.  
 
He and the Blazers upset No. 8 The University of Alabama in Huntsville in a 93-91 thriller as Bond was 5 of 6 from the field with one 3-pointer, one rebound, two blocks and one steal in the win.  He went a season-best 9 of 14 from the field for 23 points with one triple and 4 of 6 from the line with eight rebounds in the 100-92 loss to West Alabama in the conference opener last Thursday.  
 
Martin, a native of Flower Mound, Texas, had her breakout weekend as a Lady Blazer as she went 12 of 18 from the field (.667), 2 of 3 from deep and a perfect 6 of 6 from the line.  She had eight rebounds with five assists, one block and three steals helping the Lady Blazers to a 1-1 record to open Gulf South Conference play.  She went 7 of 9 from the field, 1 of 1 from distance and 4 of 4 from the line with two assists, one steal and one block in the win over West Alabama to begin league play last Thursday scoring 19 points.  She then added 13 points and a season-high six rebounds in the loss to UAH on Saturday. 
 
The VSU basketball teams begin a three-game road trip prior to the Christmas Break beginning on Saturday at rival West Florida.  The women's game is set for a 3 p.m. ET tip, followed by the men's game at approximately 5 p.m. ET.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for links to live stats, audio/video streaming, ticket information and more.  
 
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Steel's Jewelry Blazer Athletes of the Week
Oct. 20, 2025 – Eimy Negron Domenech (Volleyball) / Elad Sebbag (Men's Golf)
Oct. 27, 2025 – Kaitlyn Scherer (Women's Soccer) / Mark Robinson (Football)
Nov. 3, 2025 – Taylor Youmans (Women's Soccer) / Council Allen (Football)
Nov. 10, 2025 – Eimy Negron Domenech (Volleyball) / Corey Reddick, Jr. (Football)
Nov. 17, 2025 – Erin Whalen (Women's Basketball) / Matt Rolader (Football)
Nov. 24, 2025 – Aryana Hicks (Women's Basketball) / Blaise Wallace (Men's Basketball)
Dec. 1, 2025 – Aryana Hicks (Women's Basketball) / MJ Jones (Men's Basketball)
Dec. 8, 2025 – Alina Martin (Women's Basketball) / Samarion Bond (Men's Basketball)