MACON, Ga. – The Citadel volleyball team opened the fall 2020 season Saturday afternoon with a non-conference match at Southern Conference foe Mercer. The Bears claimed the match, 3-1, behind scores of 29-27, 25-16, 20-25, 25-13.

MATCH INFORMATION
Score: The Citadel 1, Mercer 3
Records: The Citadel (0-1), Mercer (1-0)
Location: Macon, Ga. (Hawkins Arena)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The two teams were evenly matched through the early going of the first set with Mercer only able to edge out to a five-point lead twice.
• Every time Mercer seemed to begin to pull away, the Bulldogs were able to answer. Sophomore Makaya Middleton tied the set up when she hammered home a kill to set the score at 24-all off an assist from senior Megan Fuhr.
• After Mercer edged out to a 25-24 lead, sophomore Maddy Cardenas fired off a couple of kills to give the Bulldogs a 26-25 lead, but Mercer closed things out with a 2-1 spurt to secure the set win.
• The second set started off similarly to the first with the two sides evenly matched through a 5-5 start, but Mercer managed to create a gap with five straight points. The Bears rode the momentum to a 25-16 win.
• Mercer used the momentum from the second set to jump out to a 4-0 lead in the third, but the Bulldogs never gave up, slowly cutting into the lead until senior Mellanie King came up with an ace to set the score at 12-12.
• A Kathleen Bula kill after Mercer called timeout capped a 6-0 run by the 'Dogs, and when it was all said and done, the 'Dogs out-scored the Bears 15-4 to flip the score from down 11-6, to being up 20-15, forcing Mercer to call timeout. The Bulldogs claimed the third set, 25-20, capped by one of King's team-high 14 kills.
• The fourth set once again saw Mercer jump out to a 4-0 lead, and after back-to-back Bulldog points, the Bears went on a 6-3 run to open a 13-7 lead. The Bears closed the match out on a 9-2 run to take the match.

BY THE NUMBERS

• King led 'Dogs with 14 kills off 33 attacks (.182), and added seven digs.
• With her 14 kills, King moved up to 13^th in program history with 811 career kills. She is just two away from 12^th.
• Middleton, Bula and Maya Elassal all finished their afternoons with eight kills. Elassal hit .583, while Bula started her collegiate career by hitting .385.
• Fuhr recorded her first double-double of the season off 44 assists and 10 digs.

QUOTABLES FROM COACH ZELENOCK
"Obviously we are disappointed with the result, but I'm pleased with the play of our freshmen in their first match. As a team we need to serve and pass much better and that will be a big focus this week as we prepare for our two ACC opponents. As coaches we definitely have a list of things to work on Monday, and the team is ready to get to work."

UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will remain on the road next week with a pair of matches against a pair of ACC teams. The Citadel first travels to Virginia Tech on Thursday, Sept. 17 before traveling to Clemson, South Carolina to take on the Tigers on Friday, Sept. 18.

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