LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The Gulf South Conference Volleyball Match of the Week came down to the fifth set with Valdosta State University defeating the University of West Alabama 15-7 to take the match 3-2 in Pruitt Hall Saturday.

Both teams swapped the first three sets with a score of 25-21 in each set. UWA rallied back from being a set down to take set four 25-16.

Valdosta State improves to fourth place in the league standings with 6-3 GSC record; 9-3 overall. West Alabama drops to eighth at 4-6 in the league and 5-10 overall.

The Tigers posted a better hitting percentage of .265, leading VSU in kills in each set.  The Blazers totaled .222 for the match. Five more attack errors and four more service errors by UWA proved to be the difference.

Jenna Kirkwood led Valdosta State's attack with 14 kills. Jessica Codato totaled 36 assists.

Four Tigers posted double-digit kill numbers, with Sadie Beam leading with 19. Beam also tallied double-figure digs with 10. Yanesha Johnson also marked a double-double with 15 kills and 14 digs, while Lindsey Ball led with 22 digs. Johnson went on to claim three service aces.

Beam and Elizabeth Culhane each assisted with four blocks and Beam notched one solo block as UWA out-muscled the Blazers 8-7 in team blocks.

Callie Murphy and Sam Burgess supported the attack with 29 assists each.    

West Alabama volleyball remains at home to host Mississippi College Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Pruitt Hall.