ORANGEBURG, S.C. – The Citadel volleyball team earned its fourth victory of the season in dramatic fashion as it rallied from a 2-1 deficit and overcame match-point in the fifth set to complete a 25-17, 25-27, 23-25, 25-12, 16-14 victory over fellow Lowcountry rival South Carolina State on Tuesday evening.
 
S.C. State raced out to an early 7-5 lead in the decisive set, keyed by four unforced errors, causing The Citadel to use a timeout in the game's first 12 points. The Cadets eventually drew even, 9-9, after a kill by Bailey Kernodle. Lauren Hurt's service game provided the Bulldogs a three-point edge before a 5-1 run put S.C. State at match point with a 14-13 lead. Kernodle single-handedly responded with the next three Citadel points, including a kill and a service ace, as the Cadets triumphed 16-14.
 
The Dogs (4-7) were sparked by the play of senior Ise d'Angelo who tallied 19 kills in 41 attempts, closing with a .341 attack percentage. She was joined in double-digit kills by Kernodle (14), Hurt (10) and Dominique Williams (10). Setter Rachel Keefer, who handed out 44 assists, was the sparkplug to an offensive unit that combined for 61 kills.
 
The Citadel also received several solid defensive efforts including a combined eight assisted blocks from the duo of Hurt and Mallory Moore. D'Angelo also made an impact on defense with eight digs, while classmate Amanda Rudnik led the team with 15 digs.
 
Leading the way for South Carolina State statistically were Marissa Lawrence (19 kills) and Erica Pritchett (12). Tyler Ockleberry contributed a match-high 20 digs, while Shandice Sluch added 11, giving S.C. State 51 digs in the contest. Kirby Anderson also made her presence felt for the Bulldogs with six assisted blocks, while Sluch turned back five Citadel attempts.
 
Clinging to a one point advantage early in the first match The Citadel used a pair of kills by Moore to stretch its lead to 16-11. S.C. State pushed back, moving within three, before a series of kills by Hurt forged the Cadets in front 20-13. The Citadel allowed just four points and capitalized on two Moriah Smith kills down the stretch to complete the 25-17 win.
 
S.C. State, behind two kills each by Pritchett and Lawrence, opened up the second set on a 14-8 run. The Citadel, looking to redeem itself after eight unforced errors, eventually trimmed the deficit to 19-17 following a series of strikes by Moore and d'Angelo. As the two teams battled down the stretch they forced five ties, including a 25-25 deadlock, before Anderson gave the Bulldogs a 27-25 victory on a service ace.
 
The third set followed a similar mold to the second as S.C. State opened an early lead before The Citadel battled back. The Bulldogs, behind three kills from Anderson, assumed a 14-9 advantage. An offensive surge by The Citadel, highlighted by a Dominique Williams strike, was answered by kills from Lawrence and Ashante Finne as S.C. State staved off a late Citadel rally to take the third set 25-23.
 
The Citadel regained its momentum in the fourth set behind two service aces each from Hurt, Kernodle and d'Angelo en route to a 17-6 lead. The Bulldogs continued to pour it on with timely kills by Williams and Kernodle down the stretch to complete the 25-12 win.
 
The Citadel returns to action on Friday afternoon when it begins its final in-season tournament of the year at South Carolina. The Bulldogs open the Carolina Classic with a meeting against Eastern Kentucky at 1 p.m. That is followed by a 4 p.m. meeting with Norfolk State. The tournament concludes on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. when the Dogs face host South Carolina.