MONTGOMERY, ALA. – The Citadel volleyball team finished the first day of the Alabama State ISTAP Collegiate Cup 2 with a split after Southeast Missouri downed the Bulldogs 25-19, 25-20 and 25-17 in the evening session.
 
The Bulldogs (3-5) were led offensively by Bailey Kernodle who tallied 12 kills on 26 total attacks, posting a .423 hitting percentage. Kernodle also made her presence felt on defense with three assisted blocks, while Amanda Rudnik added nine digs.
 
The tandem of Kelsey Keeve (15 kills) and Andrea Baylin (13) provided the offensive spark for Southeast Missouri, who improved to 3-6 overall with the victory. Krissa Gearring joined her teammates among the statistical leaders with 10 digs.
 
The Citadel battled through a series of early ties before assuming an 11-8 advantage in the opening frame, following a service ace by Rachel Keefer. Southeast Missouri answered with an 8-2 run, highlighted by two kills from Baylin, forcing a Bulldog timeout. The Redhawks continued their offensive rhythm throughout the remainder of the set, allowing just six Citadel points, as they completed the 25-19 win.
 
Southeast Missouri led wire-to-wire in the second set, streaking out to an early 14-9 advantage behind four kills by Baylin. The Redhawks stretched the margin to 19-12 when Nzingha Clarke drove a kill past The Citadel defense. Lauren Hurt sparked a brief Citadel rally as she forced a pair of Southeast Missouri errors, trimming the margin to 20-16. The Citadel would pull no closer as the Redhawks capitalized on kills by Baylin, Keeve and Taylor Masterson down the stretch for the 25-20 victory.
 
In the third set the Redhawks again established themselves early, moving in front 12-3 on a Keeve kill. The Bulldogs rallied behind the play of Kernodle, Ise d'Angelo and Dominique Williams as they trimmed the deficit to 16-13. Southeast Missouri managed to regain its form behind the service games of Katrina Rotta and Jade Mortimer as they completed the sweep, 25-17.
 
The Citadel 3, Savannah State 1
 
The Citadel halted a two-match losing streak with a four-set victory over Savannah State in Thursday's afternoon session of the Alabama State ISTAP Collegiate Cup 2. The Bulldogs complete their third win of the season by scores of 25-21, 22-25, 25-13 and 25-13.
 
Dominique Williams was the key to The Citadel's offensive attack as she drove home 10 kills in 17 attacks, posting a .412 hitting percentage. She was joined on the front row by Ise d'Angelo who finished off the match with eight kills (.389 hitting percentage). Teammates Lauren Hurt and Bailey Kernodle rounded out the top statistical leaders with seven kills each.
 
The Bulldogs were led on defense by the duo of Amanda Rudnik (14 digs) and Rachel Keefer who completed her first double-double of the season with 11 digs and 32 assists. Junior Bailey Kernodle also stonewalled the Tigers with four assisted blocks.
 
Zariya Thomas highlighted the Savannah State attack with 13 kills, while Gabrielle Nathaniel and Justice Dilworth chipped in seven kills apiece. Dilworth was also a vital part of the Tigers defensive attack with 12 digs.
 
Savannah State assumed the early lead in the first set, leading 16-8 following strikes by Christian Lyle and Autumn Session. The Bulldogs answered with a 12-4 run of their own, highlighted by kills from Williams, Hurt and Mallory Moore to knot the game at 20-20. A kill by Moriah Smith made for a 22-21 lead deep in the set, as the Dogs won 25-21.
 
Trailing by as many as four points during the second set, the Tigers took advantage of four unforced errors late in the game by The Citadel to deadlock the score at 20-20. The combination of Dilworth in serve, along with kills by Nathaniel and Thomas down the stretch, made for a 25-22 Savannah State win.
 
The Citadel offense was clicking on all cylinders in the third set, establishing a 17-9 lead behind multiple kills from d'Angelo, Williams and Megan Sowell. A kill by Thomas put Savannah State into double figures, but the Cadets capitalized on service aces by Rudnik and Kernodle, along with two kills by d'Angelo, to complete the 25-15 victory.
The Bulldogs' domination of Savannah State carried over into the fourth set as they jumped out to a 13-6 lead following three kills by d'Angelo. The Tigers put together a brief rally, pulling within four, 16-12, before a timely kill by Williams put Kernodle in serve. Kernodle, along with Rudnik, helped The Citadel score eight of the final 10 points as the Cadets emerged with a 25-13 win.
 
The Bulldogs return to the court on Friday when they square off against Towson at 10 a.m. That match will be followed by a 4 p.m. meeting with host Alabama State.