ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Citadel volleyball program earned one of its most impressive victories in school history on Saturday afternoon when it downed Providence 27-25, 15-25, 25-23 and 25-20 at the Kristen Dickmann Invitational on the campus of Navy.
 
The Bulldogs, who finished with 53 kills in the match were led individually by All-Tournament selection Mallory Moore (11 kills), Moriah Smith (10), Lauren Hurt (eight) and Ise d'Angelo (seven). The Citadel's defensive efforts were led the combination of Amanda Rudnik (22 digs) and Rachel Keefer (20).
 
Providence, who rejoined the Big East Conference prior to the 2014 campaign, becomes the first member of well-known conference that the Dogs have defeated in their history. Among the individual standouts for the Friars included Marina Rose (14 kills) and Mackenzie Ziegler (12). Michelle Cruz also made her impact felt for PC by virtue of 23 digs.
 
"We knew it would be a very tough match against a Big East program," said The Citadel's head coach Amir Khaledi. "We started very strong and didn't get down the entire match. (Mallory) Moore and Samantha Espy had a great outing and I am very pleased with the play of (Rachel) Keefer who did a great job running the offense."
 
The battle between the two teams began in the opening set as they endured eight ties before reaching a 21-21 deadlock. It was there that Providence seemingly grabbed the momentum with a kill by Abbie Trzeciak, but the Dogs responded with timely strikes by Moore and d'Angelo to knot the set at 24-24. A kill by Kayla Fitzgerald put the Friars on the verge of the win, but The Citadel responded with kills by Bailey Kernodle and Samantha Espy by a 27-25 margin.
 
Providence responded to the challenge in the second set, jumping out to an 18-7 advantage behind four kills by Rose and three off the hand Ziegler. Timely strikes by d'Angelo and Hurt moved the Dogs into double figures on the scoreboard, but it was the Friars that emerged 25-15.
 
After the intermission the Bulldogs found their offensive rhythm as they reached an 11-11 tie on a kill by Smith. Providence regained the lead behind the play of Ziegler and Rose, moving in front by four on four occasions, but strikes by Moore, Keefer and Espyforced a 23-23 tie. The Bulldogs managed to complete the 25-23 come-from-behind victory with a series of kills by Smith and Moore.
 
Sensing the opportunity to clinch its first win of the season, The Citadel bolted out to a 16-6 advantage due in large part to six points in serve by Moore. Providence answered with a run of its own, drawing within seven points late in the set, before Smith and Moore completed the 25-20 win.

Navy's Katie Sylakowski drove home 14 kills and Rachel Fortner added eight as host Navy completed a 25-19, 25-19, 25-23 victory over The Citadel in the final match of the Kristen Dickmann Invitational.
 
The Citadel offense was sparked by the play of freshman Moriah Smith who finished with a team-high nine kills. Joining Smith among the top offensive performers were Mallory Moore and Bailey Kernodle, who chipped in six kills. Amanda Rudnik highlighted the Dogs' defense with 15 digs, while Rachel Keefer dished out 23 assists.
 
Sylakowski helped Navy break a 2-2 tie early in the first set as Navy eventually moved in front 13-8 following a kill by Gaby Smith. After a Citadel timeout, the Mids stretched their lead to five, 16-11, before a series of unforced errors allowed the Bulldogs to trim the margin to two. Navy used three kills by Sylakowski in the final seven points to complete the 25-19 win.
 
The opening of the second set was similar to that of the first as Navy broke a 2-2 tie by putting together an 8-2 run highlighted by kills from Sylakowski and Smith. The Bulldogs answered with strikes by Kernodle and Samantha Espy, making for a 14-11 contest. Navy allowed The Citadel to pull within two on just one occasion over the next 19 points, assuming a 2-0 advantage with a 25-19 victory.
 
The third set witnessed 11 ties among the first 28 points as the game reached a 14-14 deadlock. The Citadel eventually pulled in front by two, following consecutive unforced errors by the Mids, which they maintained before Fortner sent a pair of kills past the Dogs defense for a 20-20 tie. With the two teams knotted at 23-23, Navy used a kill by Maggie Phillips and an unforced error to earn the 25-23 win.
 
The Bulldogs make their first appearance at McAlister Field House this season on Tuesday night when they host the annual Blue-White Scrimmage at 6 p.m.