PENSACOLA, Fla. – The University of Montevallo volleyball team opened up the GSC Volleyball Tournament with a 3-1 victory over Valdosta State to advance to the semifinals.

After a slow start that saw the Falcons drop the first set 25-16 to the Blazers, Montevallo fought their way back into the match. 

Montevallo trailed for most of the second set but kept it close and rallied to claim the set 25-21.

Montevallo dominated play in the final two sets to claim the match 3-1 and advance to the semifinals where they will face West Florida.

Match Information

Score: No. 5 Valdosta State 1, No. 4 Montevallo 3  (16-25, 25-21, 25-13, 25-13)
Records: Montevallo (22-8 overall, 12-4 GSC) | Valdosta State (15-18 overall, 10-6 GSC)
Location: UWF Field House (Pensacola, Fla.)

GAME NOTES

• Brie Blume led the Falcons on attack and also added another double-double to her season total.  Blume had a team-high 12 kills and also added 10 digs in defense for the Falcons.
• Evelina Teran totaled 11 kills in tonight's match and added five blocks as she teamed up with Brioni Dixon and Hannah Fernandez to deny the Blazers at the net.
• Fernandez also had double-digit kills for the Falcons with 10 and also had three blocks in the match.
• Brioni Dixon totaled four blocks in the match for the Falcons.
• Harley Masoner continued to lead the Falcons and had 22 assists in the match and split time with Savannah Roys who had 18 assists.
• Skyler Sieber totaled a team-high 14 digs in the match in her libero position.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Set 1

• The Blazers and the Falcons spent the early part of the set exchanging points and Montevallo built a small 10-7 lead.  Montevallo's offense seemed to stall when Valdosta State went on an 8-2 run to take the lead at 15-12.  After Montevallo answered with three straight points to tie the game at 15-15, the Blazers closed out the set with a 10-1 run to take the opening set 25-16.

 Set 2

• The Falcons and the Blazers competed in the second set with the same intensity that they did in the first.  Every run the Blazers made to take the lead, the Falcons responded with a run of their own to tie the game.  Late in the set, the Falcons found themselves down 21-18 but closed out the set with a seven-point run to claim the second set.

Set 3

• Montevallo dominated in the third set and jumped out to an early 11-2 lead.  Valdosta State never had an answer for the Falcons' attack.  Montevallo kept the lead in the double digits and cruised to 25-13 set victory.

Set 4

• The fourth set saw the Falcons continue to dominate on the offensive side of the ball and the Montevallo defense continued to deny the Blazers at the net.  Leading 21-11, Montevallo closed out the set with another easy 25-13 victory.

UP NEXT
Montevallo and West Florida will start day two of the GSC Volleyball Tournament with their match that is scheduled for 2:00 pm.