PENSACOLA, Fla. –  After taking a 1-0 lead in the opening match of the 2011 Gulf South Conference Tournament, the University of West Alabama volleyball team (21-11, 9-6 GSC) dropped three-straight sets in a 3-1 season-ending loss to Valdosta State.
 
Going against a team the Tigers have beaten twice this season, UWA looked strong at the start, but were outhit .310 to .042 the rest of the way as the Blazers move on to face host-school West Florida in the second round.  
 
In the first set of the match, senior Alexis McHale took charge and helped the Tigers storm out to an early lead. After two service aces from the setter, UWA took an early 3-0 advantage. Valdosta State came back to tie it at 7-7, but that would be as close as the Blazers could get as UWA took a 25-19 first-set victory.
 
The two teams reversed roles in the second set, as Valdosta State quickly jumped on the Tigers. After UWA tied the game at 3-3, the Blazers took a lead the rest of the way for a 25-15 win to tie the match at 1-1.
 
The momentum from the second set carried over the Blazers in the third and fourth games, as VSU completed the day with three-straight wins in route to a 3-1 victory.
 
For the match, the Tigers were led by senior Olivia Drew who paced the squad with 10 kills, while teammate Tazra Pitts hit a .467 clip in the defeat.
 
With the loss, UWA moves to 21-11 overall and 9-6 in the GSC.