VALDOSTA, Ga. – Coastal Georgia volleyball dropped a 3-0 (25-19, 25-11, 25-23) mid-week match at NCAA Division II's Valdosta State on Wednesday evening at The Complex.

Both Azure Werner and Sam Kepler led the Mariners with nine kills apiece. Ashley Kot put up 34 assists, and Yorelis Rios Gonzalez made 10 digs.

Coastal Georgia pulled to within one point (16-15) after a Blazer attacking error in the first set. Valdosta State answered with a costly five-point run that put the Blazers up 21-15. The teams traded points for the remainder of the set until Valdosta State won it on a Mariner service error.

The Mariners had to contend with a hot-hitting Valdosta State team who went one several multi-point runs in the second set. The Blazers hit .500 for the set, making 12 kills off 22 attack and only committing one error.

Coastal Georgia looked like it would rebound in the third set. Two different runs shifted the momentum towards the Mariners favor. An early seven-point run gave the Mariners the 12-6 lead. A service ace from Alexis Downey capped the run. Trailing by one, a solo block from Kyra White jumpstarted the five-point run that put Coastal Georgia up 18-14. However, Valdosta State answered with a timely run of its own and went up 20-19 on Chloe Chubilleau's kill. Coastal Georgia fought back and took a critical 23-22 lead on a Kepler kill, but after Valdosta State tied it on the next point due to a Mariner service error, Aurora Nero served up back-to-back aces for the match-winning points.

The Mariners return to their home court at Coffin Gym on Saturday for their conference-opening match with Keiser at 2 p.m.