Like Columbus State Athletics on Facebook!
Tweet #GoCSU

By: Stephen Williams

VALDOSTA, Ga. – Continuing its long stretch of road games to start the season, the Columbus State University volleyball team dropped a straight set decision 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-14) at Valdosta State on Tuesday. The match was played at The Complex in Valdosta, Ga.
 
For the fourth consecutive match, junior Megan Frame led the Lady Cougars in kills recording six on the night. Caytlin Merritt and Cori Ehmen led the CSU defense with 12 and 11 digs, respectively.
 
Valdosta State (4-0) opened the match by winning 11 of the first 15 points. The Lady Cougars would charge back though, getting a jolt from freshmen Abby King and Maddie Harris. King sandwiched kills around one by Harris to help swing the momentum.
 
The Blazers stretched the margin back out to seven before a second CSU push. Columbus State (0-4) rallied for six of the next seven points to get within two and forced a VSU timeout. After the break, Valdosta State recovered and made quick work of the rest of the set for the early advantage.
 
The second set stayed tightly contested, with the margin reaching no more than three until a mid-set Valdosta State run. Leading 12-10, the Blazers put together a 7-1 run to open up a 19-11 edge. The Lady Cougars got as close as five trying to come from behind, but ultimately dropped the set to fall behind 2-0.
 
VSU tallied the first five points in the third and final set to race in front. A 4-0 Columbus State burst cut the deficit down to one, led by the serves of the Lady Cougars. An ace from Sabrina Rodgers and two more from King helped CSU claw back. However, Valdosta State never surrendered the lead on its way to the three-set victory.
 
Columbus State will now travel to Melbourne, Fla. for the Panther Invitational hosted by Florida Tech. The Lady Cougars will take on Lynn and Florida Tech on Friday, before matches with Albany State and Puerto Rico-Mayaguez on Saturday.