VALDOSTA, Ga. – Junior setter Carly Smart contributed a double-double and posted a career high while junior middle blocker Brianna Garvin continued her strong play on the defensive front line in a Gulf South Conference match on Friday evening, but the Auburn Montgomery volleyball could not overcome late Valdosta State runs in a 3-0 setback (25-23, 25-22, 25-19).
 
NOTES
• AUM falls to 7-8 on the season, 1-4 in league play.
• West Alabma improves to 8-6 on the season with a 3-2 mark in GSC action.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Smart finished the contest with a match-high 28 assists and a career-best 16 digs for her fifth double-double of the season and her second in the Blazers' gym.
• Garvin tied for the team-high in kills with eight on a .368 hitting percentage while leading the Warhawks with four blocks, marking the sixth time in the last seven matches that the Atlanta, Ga., native has averaged at least one block per set.
• Freshman outside hitter Skylar Coppinger matched Garvin in terminations with eight and added six digs plus a service ace.
• Redshirt-junior right side hitter Kheala Roberts finished the contest with 12 digs, followed by sophomore defensive specialist Haley Toler who had nine.
• Sophomore outside hitter Tynesha McWilliams posted a team-high two service aces.
• For the Blazers, Tristyn Sells posted 13 kills, Sara Dandridge dished out 26 assists, Sydney Chich logged 15 digs, Lindsey Robinson blocked six AUM attempts and Chelsea Chavers served five aces.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Despite holding the hosts to a .000 hitting percentage in the opening frame and creating a 22-17 advantage after scoring five-straight points, the hosts jumped past the Warhawks via a 7-0 run to create set point with a 24-22 lead.
• In similar fashion to the previous stanza, the two sides found themselves tied 22-all after a back-and-forth set. AUM used three-straight points to knot up the score, but an equal response by the Blazers ended the frame.
• AUM led for the majority of the final set, jumping out to an early 8-2 advantage. Valdosta State cut the deficit down to two with a 5-1 run, but AUM scored three of the following four points to recreate a five-point cushion at 13-8. The hosts brought the separation to within one with four-straight points, and took the lead at 19-18 before ending the night with six-straight points.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• AUM finished the match with 34 kills on a .178 hitting percentage versus 40 on a .202 clip for Valdosta State.
• The two sides both finished the contest with 54 digs.
• Valdosta State held a 7-5 advantage in blocks.
• Valdosta State boasted 10 service aces while AUM finished the evening with four.
 
UP NEXT
AUM continues the weekend road trip on Saturday, Sept. 30 at West Florida with first serve scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
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