VALDOSTA, Ga. – Head coach Melissa Wolter earned her 400th career victory as the No. 24 Argos downed Valdosta State (9-11, 4-4 GSC) 3-2 on the road Tuesday evening. Rachel Neblett finished with one of her best matches of the season, posting 19 kills, 6 digs and 5 blocks to help the Argos (18-6, 8-0 GSC) move to 6-0 on the road this season and stay perfect in conference play.
UWF took the first set by a score of 25-21. Neblett was key in the early victory, posting five kills. Taylor Hall added four. Monique StCyr chipped in two kills while hitting .500 and piling up ten assists. The Argos erased an early 9-5 deficit to take a 17-16 lead. After a VSU timeout, the team would close on an 8-5 run punctuated by one of two kills by Nadine Williams to win the set.
Valdosta bounced back in the second with a 25-20 win to even the match at 1-1. The Blazers got out to a 6-2 lead in the set and did not relinquish the advantage. Caleigh Morrison enjoyed a solid set, registering four kills and one block. Neblett continued to be productive, adding four more kills and one block.
The Argos and Blazers began the third evenly before Valdosta broke a 9-9 tie with a 16-11 run that netted them the set 25-20. Valdosta forced seven Argo errors in taking a 2-1 lead.
UWF posted a 9-3 run in the fourth, turning a 4-2 deficit into an 11-7 lead at a Valdosta timeout. The Blazers battled back to make it 16-16 before kills by Williams, StCyr and Neblett helped the Argos re-seize the lead 19-16. UWF closed the fourth on a 9-5 run capped by a kill from Courtney Markes to seal the 25-21 win and even the match at 2-2.
Kills by Neblett and Katy Kuhlmeier helped the Argos to a 5-0 opening lead in the tiebreaker set. Williams added two kills to take the lead to 7-2. Neblett would post two straight kills plus a service ace to essentially put the fifth set away at 10-4. The Argos cruised to a 15-7 finale win.
Williams ended the evening with 12 kills plus 15 digs. Morrison had nine kills and four blocks. Logan Kael led the team with 20 digs, and Sarah Hayman finished with 16 digs. StCyr led the team with 40 assists.
The career milestone is another in the impressive career of Melissa Wolter, who has totaled 364 of her 400 career wins at UWF. She has won at least ten matches in 16 of her 18 seasons as a head coach and has totaled at least 20 wins 12 straight years.
The Argos return home this weekend for a Friday match vs. Mississippi College (10-13, 2-5 GSC) that will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday's 3 p.m. match will be the team's 11th annual "Pack It Pink" match vs. West Alabama (14-9, 6-1 GSC).
Over the past decade, the team has collected more than $50,000 to do its part in the fight against breast cancer. In lieu of tickets, the UWF athletic department will be accepting donations Saturday going towards the Pensacola Breast Cancer Association. A silent auction will run in conjunction with the event and will feature several themed gift baskets, UWF pink jerseys, gift cards, and much more. Items can be bid on in person or online during the match, with all proceeds benefiting the Pensacola Breast Cancer Association.
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