JACKSON, Tenn. - The Valdosta State volleyball team claimed their second win of this weekend's road trip to the Volunteer State by defeating Union. The Blazers (3-9) defeated the Bulldogs (2-8) in three sets (25-22, 25-18, 25-19) to move to 2-1 in Gulf South Conference play on the season. 

A Bulldog error opened the match with a Blazer point. Seniors Ava Young and Sabrina Oncins combined for a block and a kill from Young put VSU out in front 3-0. The Bulldogs stormed back behind several kills to tie the match when a service error gave VSU a 4-3 advantage. Three consecutive Union errors set up a kill by senior Katie Callenberger, and another pair of Bulldog errors made it 10-5. Callenberger knocked down another kill when a Union error made it 12-7 Blazers. Sophomore Eva LaRochelle entered and added a kill to the tally, then an ace from freshman Ava Keuntjes extended the lead to 14-7.

A pair of Bulldog kills cut into the deficit to make it 14-9. A Union error combined with a nice kill from freshman Madison Kilmer to make it 16-11. Young stepped up for another big block to put the Blazers ahead 17-11, but Union would storm back behind kills from Sydney Davis and Elizabeth Gilbert to make it 17-15. Another Union error combined with a kill from Oncins for the VSU offense, but after several Blazer errors, the set was tied at 20. Callenberger added another kill to her first set tally and junior Asia Montagnani got on the board with one of her own, 22-21 Blazers. A Union error set up Keuntjes' second ace of the set to move the Blazers within match point. Sophomore Avery Mullins set up Montagnani to knock down a kill to win the set.

Kilmer opened the second set with a big kill. Rochelle joined her with another kill, and a Union error pushed the Blazers ahead 4-1. Kilmer and LaRochelle continued their strong performances, adding another kill each to make it 6-3. Callenberger added a kill and a series of errors occurred both ways leading to the Blazers taking a 14-9 lead. Young and Montagnani recorded back-to-back kills, 16-9 Blazers. The errors continued piling up both ways, but the Blazers found themselves ahead 17-11. Young and Callenberger knocked down big kills and several Bulldog errors helped to put VSU in front 21-13. Montagnani recorded two of the Bulldogs final four points on massive kills, with another coming on a Bulldog error. VSU closed out the set with a combo block from Young and Montagnani to win it 25-18. 

Graduate Macy Brown led off the third set with a kill and was followed by a pair of Bulldog attack errors to put the Blazers ahead 3-0. LaRochelle and Union's Elizabeth Grant traded kills to make it 4-2 VSU. Kilmer, Callenberger, and Montagnani knocked down big kills for the Blazer offense to keep them in front 7-6. Several Bulldog errors swelled the VSU lead to 9-6. The Blazer offense kept their strong hitting showing going behind kills from LaRochelle and Montagnani to extend the lead to 12-7. Young and LaRochelle knocked down two more back-to-back to make it 14-8.

The Bulldog attack fought back to 14-10, but Kilmer met their run with two points on two kills to keep the lead at six, 16-10. LaRochelle and Grant traded kills for the second time in the set before LaRochelle added her eighth kill of the day to make it 18-12. The Bulldogs recorded several kills, but several errors canceled them out. Kilmer stepped up for a big block to make it 21-14. Two Bulldog errors were joined by LaRochelle's season-high ninth kill to put VSU within match point, 24-15. The Bulldogs kept fighting, gaining kills from Grant and Carleigh Charles to cut the lead to 24-19. Brown ended the set how she started it for the Blazers, punching down a kill to win the set 25-19 and take the match.

Sophomore Eva LaRochelle posted a team-leading and personal season-high nine kills. Her 8 digs on the match were also a personal season high. LaRochelle recorded 15 total kills over the two Blazer sweeps the weekend. Junior Asia Montagnani (7) and senior Katie Callenberger (6) filled out the podium of Blazer kill leaders. 

Sophomore Avery Mullins led the Blazers in both assists (23) and digs (8). Mullins has recorded a team high 234 assists along with 101 digs during her sophomore campaign. Senior Ava Young led the team and tied her season-high tally with four blocks. Freshman Ava Keuntjes led the team with two service aces. 


Looking Forward

The Valdosta State volleyball team posted two big GSC victories on the road this weekend. The team will be back in action at the Complex three times next week, first hosting Auburn Montgomery at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 30th. The Blazers host two more matches on the week against GSC opponents on Friday vs (UAH) and Saturday (vs Montevallo).

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