MONTGOMERY, ALA. – Tournament host Alabama State overcame a hard-charging Citadel squad in the final match of the ISTAP Collegiate Cup 2 to earn a 25-19, 20-25, 17-25, 25-21, 15-11 victory over the Bulldogs on Friday afternoon.
 
The play of Amber Bennett (15 kills) and Rachel Smith (11) proved to be the difference for the Hornets, who combined for 52 total kills. Smith was also instrumental on defense as she finished with a match-high 19 digs. Ellyn Jones also posted a double-double in the match by virtue of 28 assists and 12 digs. ASU also took advantage of 14 assisted blocks as they improved to 4-7 overall.
 
The Citadel (3-6) was led on offense by the play of Bailey Kernodle (16 kills) and Dominique Williams (nine). Kernodle completed her second double-double of the season with a team-high 13 digs. Rachel Keefer (34 assists) and Amanda Rudnik (12 digs) also reached double figures for the Cadets.
 
Alabama State paired two Bennett kills with seven Citadel unforced errors to move in front 17-9 in the first set. The Bulldogs countered by forcing a pair of consecutive attack errors by Khryssnee Madison, pulling within five with Kernodle in serve. Timely kills by Ise d'Angelo and Megan Sowell, combined with a series of ASU attack errors, trimmed the deficit to 21-18. After a late timeout to regroup, Alabama State closed out the match with a 25-19 win.
 
The Bulldogs assumed a 14-10 lead midway through the second set due in large part to five ASU errors and two kills each by d'Angelo and Williams. Despite offensive strikes by Samantha Espy and Sowell, the Hornets remained within four points of The Citadel in the waning stages of the match. Separated by a 20-16 score, the Dogs used three kills down the stretch by Kernodle to knot the match at 1-1 with a 25-20 win.
 
Kernodle continued to be a nemesis for the Alabama State defense in the third set, driving a kill past the Hornets defensive alignment to give the Dogs a 15-14 lead. A string of points by Espy stretched The Citadel's lead to seven, 23-16, forcing an ASU timeout. A pair of kills by Keefer and Williams gave the Bulldogs a 25-17 win in the set and a 2-1 advantage.
 
Alabama State responded to the challenge in the fourth set, battling through nine ties, including an 18-18 deadlock, before taking the lead on an unforced Citadel error. The Hornets added to the lead with Chelsey Scott in serve, stretching the margin to 22-19, as they eventually sent the match to a fifth set with a 25-21 triumph.
 
The Bulldogs used kills by Kernodle and Espy to take an early 3-1 lead in the tightly contested fifth game. Alabama State countered with a 4-0 run, assuming a two-point advantage in the process before the two teams reached a 9-9 tie. Consecutive kills by Tiara Kelley provided ASU with an 11-9 lead, forcing the Bulldogs to spend their first timeout. A pair of unforced errors stretched the Hornets lead to 13-9 as Alabama State eventually emerged with the 15-11 victory.
 

 
In the first match of the day Towson completed a three-set victory over The Citadel by scores of 25-8, 25-21 and 25-10. The Tigers were paced by the duo of Haley Pa'akaula (12 kills) and Saitaua Iosia (10).
 
The Citadel was plagued offensively throughout the match, combining for 17 team kills. Lauren Hurt's five kills led the way for the Bulldogs, while Ise d'Angelo contributed seven digs.
 
Towson ended the match with 33 kills and a .397 hitting percentage, keyed by Pa'akaula and Iosia. Paige Sekerak added 11 digs and Steadman capped off the match with five assisted blocks.
 
Towson took command of the first set early, using six Citadel unforced errors and service aces by Iosia and Lindsay Flaherty to establish an 18-5 lead. After Bailey Kernodle kill ended Pa'akaula's stint in serve, The Citadel managed just two additional points over the remainder of the game as Towson won 25-8.
 
The Bulldogs responded to the challenge in the second set, taking a two-point lead early as the teams battled to an 11-11 tie. An unforced error by The Citadel sparked an 8-0 Towson run that ended on a Flaherty service error. With the two units separated by six points, and Amanda Rudnik in serve, the Dogs used kills by Megan Sowell and Hurt to pull within four, 21-17. Service aces highlighted the final eight points of the 25-21 Towson victory.
 
The Tigers regained their earlier form as they streaked out to a 20-8 lead in the decisive set. Four kills by Pa'akaula combined with nine Citadel unforced errors created the 12-point difference. The Bulldogs managed just two points over the remainder of the set as Towson completed the sweep 25-10.
 
The Citadel will enjoy a four-day break before heading to Orangeburg to take on South Carolina State at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16.