CHARLESTON, S.C. – A match-high nine kills by Bailey Kernodle led The Citadel's to its first three-game sweep of the season as the Bulldogs downed Savannah State (25-16, 25-18, 25-14) in their Dig Pink match on Tuesday evening.
 
The Citadel (6-13) snapped its season-long five-match losing streak behind a team effort that included 34 kills and 14 assisted blocks. Joining Kernodle among the individual offensive leaders were Dominique Williams (six kills) and Ise d'Angelo (five). On defense The Citadel was anchored by the play of Lauren Hurt (five assisted blocks) and Samantha Espy (12 digs).
 
Savannah State (4-16) was unable to get in sync offensively, committing 25 errors in 93 total attacks. The duo of Zariya Thomas and Justice Dilworth led the Tigers with six kills apiece. The bright spot on defense was Alexis Washington, who posted 17 digs.
 
The Citadel broke a 4-all tie early in the first set, following a kill by d'Angelo, and outscored the Tigers 15-3 during a run that was highlighted by eight kills. After Savannah State burned its second timeout, trailing 19-8, the Bulldogs capitalized on timely kills by d'Angelo, Williams and Megan Sowell down the stretch to complete the nine-point win.
 
The Citadel raced out to an early 10-2 lead in the second set behind the service games of Espy, Logan Smith and Gracie Barnes. Those servers forced Savannah State to commit eight errors in the first 12 points. The Dogs dominated throughout, allowing the lead to slip to less than seven points only twice over the remainder of the game.
 
Much like the second set, The Citadel opened up an early lead on the Tigers, scoring 11 of the game's first 17 points. A brief run by Savannah State trimmed the deficit to four, but timely kills by Moriah Smith, Kernodle and Williams along with a pair of service aces gave the Bulldogs their second win at McAlister Field House this season.
 
The Citadel returns to SoCon action this weekend when it heads to the Tar Heel State to face UNCG (Saturday, 7 p.m.) and Western Carolina (Sunday, 2 p.m.).