MONTGOMERY, Ala. – In a rematch of last season's first-round playoff game, the Auburn University at Montgomery volleyball team defeated Valdosta State in the quarterfinals of the Spring Championship Series 3-0.

The Warhawks win a playoff game for the second-consecutive season and improve to 2-1 all-time in playoff matches.

Giada Pais-Marden led the Warhawk offense on Saturday night, recording a team-high 13 kills. Freshman Kyla Ffrench had a stellar contest, netting five kills and five blocks against the Lady Blazers.

Four different Warhawks netted kills in the early portions of the first set as Ffrench, Pais-Marden, Maria Nicolau, and Mariane Cassiano helped the Warhawks to an early 6-3 lead. Valdosta State, however, would later cut the AUM lead to 12-10 in the middle stages of the first.

AUM took six of the next seven points to stretch out their lead in the first set to 18-11. The Lady Blazers would not go quietly in the first set as they would had their backs against the wall and cut the lead down to 24-22 before a kill from Pais-Marden ended the first game.

The Warhawks' offense erupted to begin the second set, creating a distant 16-8 advantage over Valdosta State. The Lady Blazers came back to take eight of the next nine points to cut the deficit to 17-16 and would eventually take a 21-19 lead over AUM.

With a 24-23 lead for the Lady Blazers, the Warhawks found offense from Nicolau to keep the Orange & Black alive in the second. Valdosta State again took a 25-24 lead, but AUM came back with three in a row to win the second set 27-25.

The first 14 points of the third set were split evenly between the two teams as neither side was able to gain an advantage. A Carla Butler ace helped distance AUM from Valdosta State, extending the Warhawks' lead to 12-8.

Valdosta State cut the AUM lead to as little as one in the dying moments of the third set, cutting the AUM lead to 23-22. A kill from Cassiano and Nicolau put the game on ice for AUM, securing their place in the SCS semifinals.

The Warhawks will face the No. 1 seed from Group A, Alabama Huntsville, on Wednesday, March 31 in Hoover, Ala. The start time for Wednesday's match is still to be determined.

For the latest on AUM athletics, find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.