CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel rallied from an early opening set loss to emerge with a 3-1 victory over N.C. A&T by scores of 25-27, 25-19, 25-17 and 25-14 at McAlister Field House on Friday evening. The Bulldogs, who moved to 2-2 on the season, were led by the play of seniors Ise d'Angelo (18 kills) and Lauren Hurt (13).
 
Collectively the Bulldogs finished with a .286 attack percentage, driving home 60 kills against only 18 errors. Joining the duo of d'Angelo and Hurt with double figure kills was Moriah Smith. Meanwhile, The Citadel's defensive efforts were led by Amanda Rudnik (17 digs) and d'Angelo (10). Teammate Rachel Keefer handed out 53 assists.
 
N.C. A&T (0-5) was led offensively by the trio of Aleena McDaniel (16 kills), Te'Borah Hawkins (12) and Brooke Stamnes (10). The Aggies defensive efforts were highlighted by the play of Liz Martino (13 digs) and Ashley Johnson (12).
 
N.C. A&T established a 13-9 lead early in the opening set following a series of unforced errors by The Citadel. After moving ahead by six, 21-15, with Stamnes in serve, the Aggies surrendered nine of the next 12 points to make for a 24-24 contest. After a d'Angelo kill knotted the game at 25-25, the Aggies managed to convert the final two points of the set, including a Stamnes kill, to complete the two-point win.
 
N.C. A&T's offense maintained its rhythm early in the second set as a series of kills by McDaniel made for a 13-9 lead. The lead remained at four, 16-12, following a strike by McDaniel, before a series of kills by Mallory Moore, Hurt and d'Angelo provided The Citadel with a 19-16 advantage. Three unforced errors by the Aggies along with kills by Moriah Smith and d'Angelo provided the 25-19 margin.
 
The two teams battled through eight ties to reach a 16-16 deadlock on a kill by d'Angelo. After Moriah Smith gave the Dogs a slim one-point lead, a service ace by d'Angelo forced the Aggies to spend their first timeout of the set. D'Angelo continued her mastery in serve as she forged The Citadel ahead 24-16 before McDaniel drove home the final point for N.C. A&T. Hurt gave the Cadets a 2-1 lead in the match with a kill for the 25-17 victory.
 
The Citadel combined the momentum from the end of the third set with three kills by d'Angelo to assume a 10-6 advantage. Three more strikes by d'Angelo and a service ace by Moore pushed the lead to seven before a series of errors allowed N.C. A&T to pull within 16-10 of the Dogs. The Citadel allowed just four points over the remainder of the set to complete the 25-14 win.
 
The Citadel's two-day tournament continues on Saturday with four matches between Stetson, Charleston Southern, The Citadel and N.C. A&T. The first match of the day is set for 10 a.m., followed by contests at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.