CARROLLTON, Ga. – The 2023 season came to an end for the University of West Georgia Volleyball team on Tuesday after a 3-1 loss to the Valdosta State Blazers.

UWG (14-15, 8-8 GSC) got out-hit by Valdosta State (19-13, 10-6 GSC) as the Blazers put down 49 kills on a .228 hitting percentage compared to the Wolves 36 kills on a .086 hitting percentage.

VSU blitzed UWG in the first set, taking a 12-6 lead to begin. The Wolves struggled to contain the Blazers offense as four straight kills from Valdosta State put West Georgia in a 16-8 hole, forcing coach Kara Hellmann to burn a timeout. A kill from Marley Staats woke UWG up as the sophomore sparked a 9-4 run, pulling West Georgia within three at 20-17, before the Blazers scored five of the next seven points to win the set, 25-19.

The Wolves never could get going in the second set as UWG only recorded two kills on a .-.118 hitting percentage, leading to a 25-9 set win for VSU.

Down 2-0, West Georgia bounced back nicely in the third set, accumulating 15 kills on a .324 hitting percentage. It all started with the Wolves taking a 13-8 lead after back-to-back points from Zoë LaBreche forced a Valdosta State timeout. Out of the break, the Blazers countered, by using a 5-0 run to tie the game at 15. The two teams then traded points the rest of the way until back-to-back kills from Allison Bowser won the set for UWG, 25-23.

The offensive woes returned for West Georgia in the fourth set as the Wolves recorded six kills on a -.028 hitting percentage, while Valdosta State recorded 13 kills on a .257 hitting percentage, propelling VSU to a 25-11 set win.

West Georgia ends their 2023 season with a record of 14-15.