VALDOSTA, Ga. - The Argonauts (5-4) claimed the first and third sets but were pushed to a fifth set for the fourth time in five matches and fell to Florida Southern (5-2) in another classic volleyball thriller (20-25, 27-25, 19-25, 25-22, 15-7) at The Complex on the campus of Valdosta State Friday afternoon.
 
When it came to offensive production, the Mocs only finished with six more kills and two less errors on two less attempts in the final box score, but that translated to winning the hitting battle .211 to .166. Four Mocs had double-digit kills, two of them hitting .462 on 16 kills and .353 on 14 kills. The Argos saw four of their own score more than 10 kills. 
 
Jenna Zydlo once again paced the offense as she tallied 15 kills on 26 swings for a .462 day with a solo and assisted block. Reigning GSC Freshman of the Week Magdalena Vongkasemsiri had another huge performance, scoring 13 kills on .273 hitting with four total blocks. The native of Murfreesboro, Tenn., has made her presence felt, as she has yet to hit under .200 in a match or score less than 10 kills when playing multiple sets. 
 
Annie Monaco added 13 more attacks that hit their mark. Emily Breazeale made it two double-doubles in as many contests as she turned in 12 kills and 19 digs. Six more kills came from Kumara Flanagain. As per usual, Gabi Moulton was there to distribute the ball for the offense and defend at every turn, racking up 46 assists and 14 digs. Meg Brackhan did her part on the back line with 15 digs, and she and Olivia Kelly each assisted three kills. Taylor Teaman put up nine scoops and the Argos' two aces. 
 
Despite seven less kills than FSC, UWF came out swinging in the first set, taking the frame while outhitting their Sunshine State Conference foe .244 to .146. The Mocs responded by taking the battle in the second .279 to .208, enough to beat back two Argonaut set points. The Argos took out their frustrations in the third, taking the set and a 2-1 match lead while hitting .387 on 15 kills with just three miscues to the Mocs' .273, even as the latter came back from a 15-7 deficit to twice pull within three. 
 
After combining for just eight errors in the third, the sides combined for 16 in the fourth frame while each earning 12 kills as Florida Southern took the hitting battle .15 to .045. FSC took a 10-6 lead off two 3-0 runs before the Argos ripped off a 7-0 run to threaten to claim the match in a stretch of five errors, two of which were solo Vongkasemsiri blocks to go with a kill, and two Monaco kills off Brackhan assists. With a 16-13 lead off another kill by Vongkasemsiri, the Mocs utilized three errors, a kill and an ace to retake the lead that UWF would close the gap on but not overcome. 
 
The momentum was what FSC needed to clinch the match in the final set, hitting .238 while holding UWF to negative hitting and seven errors on 13 attacks. The Argos' first five points came from some of the same playmakers, with two kills apiece from Zydlo and Vongkasemsiri and a block split by Vongkasemsiri and Flanagain. However, those points only put dents in the Mocs' finish. 
 
The Argos' road this week through Valdosta only gets tougher from here, as they take on another South Region competitor in current No. 1 overall and four-time national champion Tampa tomorrow at 3:30 pm ET/2:30 pm CT.
 
For more information, please visit GoArgos.com or follow the program at @UWFVolleyball on Facebook, X and Instagram.