The Valdosta State volleyball team will pack their bags in a couple weeks to head to the beach but the trip will be far from a vacation.

Pensacola, Fla,. again is the destination for this year’s Gulf South Conference tournament where the Blazers will try to make history by winning a conference title for the first time ever.

The hosting team No. 18 West Florida improved to a conference best 22-7 (15-1) last night beating VSU 3-2 (15-25, 25-20, 25-18, 23-25, 15-7) in the final regular season match.

Despite the loss, it proves that the Blazers can indeed compete against any team in the GSC.

If VSU can win the conference they will get an automatic bid into the national tournament.

The Blazers most likely will have meet up against the Argos again to win the title.

Head coach Sia Poyer describes the transition into the post-season like “hitting the reset button”.

He agrees that statistics don’t mean much during this time of the season because on any given day a team can make a run.

The Blazers last year managed to advance to the semi-finals before losing to 2011 champs UWF.

Led by its seniors, VSU has improved from their season a year ago.

“My seniors are playing well which is always a huge plus. The confidence of them playing well brings leadership providing that spark,” Poyer said.

Senior Chelsea Luttfring, who received player of the week honors last week, atop of the conference in digs while go-to hitter senior Katie Onushko currently has a team leading 317 kills.

Senior middle blocker Tania Tauiliili and sophomore Destini Berry combined for 180 blocks this season.

The GSC is widely known for its tough competition and this win or go-home contest will be the season finale for four of the five competing teams.

“Even though West Florida is hosting, it’s very realistic for any time one to five,” Poyer said. “Other teams too are getting more comfortable just play at West Florida.”

UWF and Chrsitian Brothers are the only two GS who earned NCAA South Region regional rankings.

The quarterfinals begin November 18th.