GOLDEN Colo. – The Valdosta State volleyball team dropped a pair of matches to No. 14 Grand Valley State (23-25, 11-25, 18-25) and Colorado School of Mines (24-26, 25-22, 12-25, 13-25) to open its 2025 campaign at the Oredigger Classic.
No. 14 Grand Valley State 3, Valdosta State 0
The Blazers jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the opening set of their 2025 campaign behind a trio of kills from newcomer Asia Montagnani before No. 14th GVSU (0-0) stormed back to win 25-23. Fellow transfer Macy Brown added four kills in the first set of her own Blazer career. Brown, Montagnani and Katie Callenberger each earned a block in the opening set of the season.
Early kills from Ava Young and Montagnani in the second set put the Blazers out to a 3-1 lead. Freshman Madison Kilmer recorded her first career kill, but the Lakers would run away to win it 25-11
Young and Montagnani combined for a block to open the third set.
Sabrina Oncins recorded a kill, Young added another, and a service ace from Eimy Negron Domenech put the Blazers ahead 5-1. Eva LaRochelle recorded her first kill as a Blazer, and Callenberger added three more, but ultimately GVSU took the third and final set of the season-opener 25-18.
Montagnani led the offense with 9 kills at a .438 clip in her Blazer debut. Avery Mullins recorded a team-high 19 assists over three sets of work. Negron Domenech led the way defensively with 12 digs.
Colorado School of Mines 3, Valdosta State 1
In the second match of their season, Valdosta State volleyball (0-1) took on the tournament hosting CSM Orediggers (2-0).
The Blazers were defeated in a hard-fought battle of an opening set. Mullins tallied two aces over a four-serve run in the middle of the set. Brown (3) Callenberger (3), Oncins (2), and Montagnani (1) recorded big time kills, but the Orediggers escaped with a 26-24 victory.
VSU took its first set of the season 25-22 over the Orediggers in the second set of the match. Four Blazers (Oncincs, Callenberger, Browns, Mullins) recorded kills early as the teams traded blows. At 7-7, Mullins served an ace to put the Blazers ahead. Young and Montagnani combined for another block to put the Blazers out to a 9-7 lead. The set would stay close throughout with neither side taking a lead larger than three at any point. Ultimately, a big service run by Brown and a final kill from Montagnani earned the Blazers the set.
Brown recorded a pair of kills in the third set with Mullins and Oncins adding one each, but the Orediggers ran away with a 25-12 victory.
Kilmer recorded three kills in what would be the final set of the day. Montagnani and Brown added two kills each in the effort, but CSM broke away for a 25-13 win to close out the evening.
Mullins led the team in aces (3) and assists (15) in the nightcap. Callenberger recorded a team-high seven blocks to go along with her five kills. Brown's eight kills paced the Blazer attack.
Looking Forward:
The action continues in Golden, Colo. tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET when the Blazers (0-2) take on Colorado Christian (0-2). They will then turn their attention to No. 22 Washburn (2-0) at 4 p.m. ET to close out the Oredigger Classic.
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