HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Valdosta State Volleyball dropped a pair of matches to USC Aiken (15-25, 12-25, 19-25) and Francis Marion (25-18, 26-24, 21-25, 20-25, 10-15) to open the 2026 campaign at the Coker Cobra Classic. 

Match 1: USC Aiken 3, Valdosta State 0

The Blazers started the day off taking an 3-2 lead behind early kills from Kinsley Timmons and Camryn Childers, but the Pacers would answer back with a 4-0 run and ended up taking the first set 25-15. 

The second set would be more of the same for USCA as a Timmons kill was the lone blemish in a 9-1 run to open the second set. VSU would go on a 3-0 run including a kill from Eva LaRochelle and a service ace from Ava Keuntjes, but the Pacers took set two 25-12. 

The final set was a set of runs as the two teams combined for six point streaks of at least three. With their backs against the wall, the Blazers showed some fight, taking a 13-8 lead thanks in part to a 4-0 run including kills from Asia Montagnani and Childers. USCA bent but didn't break, responding with a 4-0 run of their own followed by a 7-0 run to take a 21-16 lead before closing out the set and match with three straight points for a 25-19 score. 
 
Match 2: Francis Marion 3, Valdosta State 2

Looking to bounce back from the morning's loss, the Blazers jumped out to a hot start. After falling behind 3-1, the Blazers struck,  going on a 9-1 run taking a 10-4 lead. The Patriots would fight back rattling off four straight at one point, but it wasn't enough as VSU would hold on to take the first set 25-18. 

The second set was back and forth until two Maddie Goodwin kills kickstarted a 5-0 run for the Blazers to take a 10-6 lead. The Patriots used the rest of the set to fight back tying it at 23 but after a VSU timeout, the Blazers would take three of the next four points to take the second set and a 2-0 lead. 

Set number three saw the Patriots jump out to a quick 13-6 lead. After regrouping following a timeout, the Blazers rattled off four in a row including back-to-back kills from Montagnani and LaRochelle. Later, kills by Maddie Kilmer and Goodwin would bring the Blazers within one twice at 18-17 and again at 20-19, another Kilmer kill would do the same at 22-21 but the Patriots closed out the set with three straight points to take the set and stay alive. 

Teams traded blows in the fourth set, fighting neck and neck to an 18-18 tie however, FMU would take seven of the final nine points to close out the set 25-20 and tie the match. 

In the tie-breaking fifth set the Blazers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to a LaRochelle kill. After FMU tied things at 4-4, Kilmer and Goodwin teamed up for a block starting a 3-0 run taking a 7-4 lead. Francis Marion would follow with an 11-3 run to take the fifth set and the match.  

Despite the two losses, the Blazers had strong performances on the day, led by Kilmer and Timmons up the middle offensively with Eimy Negron Domenech leading the way defensively with 32 digs.
 
Looking Forward: 
The Blazers close out the Coker Cobra Classic with their final match of the weekend tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. against Chowan (0-1). 
 
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