CARROLLTON, Ga. - Resilience has been the mantra of the UWG Volleyball program through the first 11 matches this season. 

That resilience was on full display on Friday evening at The Complex in Valdosta as the Wolves' defensive effort powered UWG to a 3-2 victory over the Valdosta State Blazers in Gulf South Conference play. Friday's was the fourth time this season that the Wolves have played a five-set match, now boasting a 3-1 record in those matches. 

This win as about the defense, as sophomores Tierra White and Sydney Blackmon teamed up to lead the Wolves at the net and on the back line. White had seven blocks against the Blazers, including four solo blocks, and Blackmon picked up her second 30-dig club match, delivering on 36 digs in the five-set affair. 

The opening set saw the Wolves open up a three-point lead midway through the set, one that they would not relinquish for the remainder of the frame. The Blazers cut the lead to two several times, including at 21-19, but could get no closer. After that point, West Georgia rattled off four consecutive points to take the 25-19 victory. 

The momentum from that set was short-lived, as the Blazers fired right back with an 11-point win in the second set to tie things up at 1-1 with a 25-14 victory. The third set saw the Wolves fall behind 2-1 in the match with a 25-17 loss. Things continued to look bleak in the fourth set, as VSU opened the frame with a 4-0 run. 

West Georgia responded with a 5-1 run to tie the set. That momentum continued as the Wolves' run turned into a 15-6 romp, leading UWG to a commanding 15-10 lead. The advantage reached as many as seven before the Blazers fired back with a run, pulling within one point at 22-21. Caitlin Frazee stepped to the forefront at that point with a kill and a block, giving the Wolves a 25-22 win and forcing a fifth and deciding set. 

The Wolves jumped out to a 9-4 lead quickly in the set, only to have the Blazers return the favor with a 5-2 run to pull within one at 11-10. West Georgia scored five of the final six points of the match to take a 15-11 victory and give head coach Kara Hellmann her first Gulf South Conference win. 

White led the offense with 14 kills and Emilee Harris added 10 as the lone UWG players in double-figure kills. Autumn Mayes led the offense with 34 assists in the match, adding 21 digs to the tally as well. She and Blackmon were two of four UWG players with double-digit digs in the match, with Harris adding 13 and 11 from Jesse Echols. 

West Georgia will take on West Florida on Saturday afternoon in Pensacola, with first serve in that one set for 2:00 p.m.