CHARLESTON, S.C. – Ivey Rice led four East Tennessee State players in double-digit kills as the Buccaneers earned a hard fought 25-17, 25-12, 25-27, 25-18 victory over The Citadel on Senior Night at McAlister Field House on Friday.

Rice, who drove home 16 kills for the visiting Buccaneers, was joined in double figures by Rylee Milhorn (12), Bethany Hesell (12) and Meredith Hardy (11). ETSU (16-15, 10-5 SoCon) finished the match with 66 team kills and a .305 hitting percentage.

On defense, the Buccaneers attack was led by Katie Muey (22 digs), while Milhorn completed a double-double with 15 digs. Hardy was also instrumental for East Tennessee State's defensive attack with a team-high five assisted blocks.

As for The Citadel (8-24, 0-15), the offense was paced by the duo of Bailey Kernodle (14 kills) and Megan Sowell (10). Senior Ise d'Angelo added six kills as the Dogs posted a .199 hitting percentage as a team. Defensively, d'Angelo was a stopper with a team-high 14 digs, while Rachel Keefer added 12 to go along with 27 assists.

The two teams battled to a seven-all tie early in the first set before an 8-2 run, which included kills by Hardy and Milhorn, gave the Bucs a 15-9 advantage. Dominique Williams put the Dogs into double figures and subsequent kills by Kernodle and Lauren Hurt kept The Citadel within striking distance, 18-14. Timely kills by Hardy over the final 10 points of the match gave ETSU the victory.

The second set was similar to the first as the teams reached a 7-7 tie on a kill by Khadijah Wiley. East Tennessee State used the momentum to outscore the Dogs 13-2 as it moved in front 20-9. Despite strikes down the stretch by Kernodle, Hurt and Sowell, ETSU assumed the two-game advantage with the 13-point win.

The back-and-forth third set witnessed 12 ties and five lead changes as the two teams battled to a climatic 25-all deadlock late in the game. It was there that The Citadel converted a Sowell kill into a set point with Hurt in serve. The Bulldogs, with the McAlister Field House faithful at their feet, converted a kill by d'Angelo to earn their first SoCon set victory at home this season. 

The Citadel carried that energy into the third set as it assumed a 6-1 lead behind strong service games from Keefer and Samantha Espy. The teams reached an eventual 13-13 deadlock before the Buccaneers assumed a four-point lead, 20-16, behind three kills from Gesell. ETSU allowed just two points down the stretch as it earned its 10th victory in league play this season.

The Bulldogs complete the regular season on Saturday afternoon when they host UNCG at 5 p.m.