MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Despite setting a program record and matching another one, the Auburn Montgomery volleyball team dropped a 3-2 (23-25, 18-25, 26-24, 25-17, 15-12) decision to visiting Valdosta State on Saturday evening in the final home match of the inaugural campaign.
NOTES
• AUM drops to 9-19 overall, 1-13 in Gulf South Conference action.
• Valdosta State improves to 12-15 on the season and 6-8 in GSC play.
• The Warhawks' 14 blocks is a program record, and the sixth-most by a GSC team in a match this season. AUM's 80 digs matches the program record, originally set at Huntingdon on Sept. 13.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Junior middle Blocker
Brianna Garvin boasted eight blocks (three solo, five assisted) in the five-set match, setting a new program record and tied for the fourth most in a single game by anyone in the GSC this season.
• Playing in her final game in the AUM Gymnasium, redshirt junior right-side hitter
Kheala Roberts led the offense with 12 kills to go with 10 digs for her second double-double of the season while adding four blocks (one solo, three assisted).
• Junior setter
Carly Smart came one kill short of a triple double, recording 42 assists, 10 digs and nine terminations. The double-double is her 10th of the season
• Sophomore defensive specialist
Haley Toler anchored the defense with 19 digs, followed by freshman outside hitter
Skylar Coppinger and redshirt freshman middle blocker
Jaylyn Felder with 18 and 11, respectively.
• For Valdosta State, Kayla Widera had 12 kills, Sara Dandridge had 34 assists and Sydney Chick had 31 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• AUM trailed in the early phase of the first set, using a 4-0 run midway through the frame to take a 16-14 lead. VSU brought the score within one four times, but AUM prevented the visitors from tying the score for the remainder of the frame.
• Riding the momentum from the previous set, AUM scored the opening point of the second stanza and led the entire frame. VSU brought the deficit to one midway through the set at 15-14 behind a 7-1 run, but an 8-1 response by the Warhawks made it 23-15.
• AUM had a chance to end the match in a back-and-forth third set that saw four tied scores over the final 15 points, creating match point at 24-23 before three-straight points by the Blazers forced a fourth.
• Valdosta State led the entire fourth set, allowing only one tied score that came after a 4-0 spurt by the Warhawks knotted the score at 12-all only for a 6-1 VSU retort creating a five-point lead at 18-13.
• AUM led by as many as three in the final set, holding a 10-7 advantage before a 7-1 run by Valdosta State flipped the separation in their favor with a 14-11 score.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• AUM finished the match with 55 kills on a .185 hitting percentage versus 56 on a .126 clip for Valdosta State.
• AUM won the battle at the net with 14 blocks against nine for VSU
• VSU held a slim 83-80 advantage in digs.
• Valdosta State served six aces, AUM recorded four.
UP NEXT
AUM concludes the season with a pair of road matches, starting on Friday, Nov. 10 at West Georgia. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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