Morehead State Box Score (PDF) | Robert Morris Box Score (PDF)

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Citadel volleyball team split its two matches Friday as it opened the 2016 season hosting the Bulldog Battle.

The Bulldogs won their season-opening match 3-2 over Morehead State on Friday afternoon and fell by the same score to Robert Morris on Friday evening.

The Bulldogs opened up a quick 2-0 lead against Morehead State by winning the first set 25-22 and the second set 25-23. Outside hitters Carla Bruce and Moriah Smith led the way with six kills each through the first two sets. Smith also paced the team in digs with 13, followed by libero Samantha Espy.

After the break, the Eagles outlasted the Bulldogs 31-29 in a back-and-forth third set. Bruce and Smith each added five more kills for the Bulldogs, but Merideth Jewell of Morehead State put up 10 kills individually for the set. The Citadel finished with a match-high .233 hitting percentage in the third set, but the Eagles were able to hit at a .281 clip to take the set.

Morehead State took control of the fourth set early and never looked back, cruising to a 25-17 victory to even the score at two. In the deciding fifth set, however, the Bulldogs took a 12-5 advantage and were able to hold with a 15-13 triumph to claim their first match of the season.

Smith led the team with 14 kills, followed by Bruce with 13. Bruce also paced the team with 19 digs, while Smith and Espy each finished with 18. Setters Priscilla Irizarry and Logan Smith had 17 and 16 assists respectively. Right side hitter Megan Sowell added nine kills with a team-high 5 block assists, while middle hitter Dominique Williams posted four block assists.

In their second match of the day against Robert Morris, the Bulldogs again jumped out to a 2-0 lead with identical first set victories as their first match, 25-22 and 25-23. However, Robert Morris responded and grabbed wins of 25-14 and 25-16 in the third and fourth sets. The Bulldogs found themselves in another deciding set, but were unable to come away with the victory as the Colonials finished their comeback with a 15-12 win in the fifth set.

Smith matched her first match total with 18 more kills, hitting .136 from the floor. Espy led the team with 27 digs, while Logan Smith paced the Bulldogs with 21 assists.

The Citadel wraps up play at the Bulldog Battle on Saturday when it hosts Gardner-Webb at approximately 1 p.m. Follow along at the Tournament Central page here.

For more information on The Citadel volleyball follow @CitadelVB or visit CitadelSports.com.