BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Citadel volleyball team used a 7-0 run to close out the match and defeat Samford, 3-2 (25-22, 19-25, 11-25, 25-17, 15-13), Sunday evening inside the Hanna Center.
Score: The Citadel 3, Samford 2
Records: The Citadel (9-11, 7-8), Samford (12-3, 12-3)
Location: Pete Hanna Center (Birmingham, Alabama)
Series: Samford leads 18-2
How it Happened
- The Citadel got off to a good start as Mellanie King recorded three kills to push out to a7-5 advantage.
- The set would remain tight before a 4-0 run opened a 20-15 advantage.
- Samford would get as close as three points, but Sharlissa de Jesus ended the set with a kill.
- Samford come back in the second and third sets to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
- The Citadel was not deterred by the scores from the previous two sets as they raced out to a 7-2 lead in the fourth set.
- The Citadel would push the advantage to 16-7 after back-to-back kills from Makaya Middleton and de Jesus.
- It was just part of an 8-2 run that was culminated with a de Jesus ace to make it 21-9.
- Samford would attempt to make a run, but The Citadel would not let it happen. Kills from Alicia Roberts and de Jesus put an end to the fourth set.
- Samford came out in the fifth set and opened a 10-5 advantage.
- The Citadel got a couple points back on a service error and a kill from King, but Samford was able to push the advantage to 13-8.
- A pair of bed sets from Samford, and two more kills from de Jesus allowed The Citadel to come back and tie the score, 13-13.
- de Jesus would set up match point with her 19th kill of match.
- On the next play, Samford was not able to keep the attack in play and The Citadel rallied for the five-set victory.
Inside the Box Score
- The victory was just the second in 20 all-time meetings against Samford.
- It was the first five-set match played between the two teams.
- The Citadel has now won a program-record four-straight conference matches.
- The duo of Mellanie King and Sharlissa de Jesus continued to cause problems on the outside. Both players finished with 19 kills.
- King added 12 digs and de Jesus 16 as the pair finished with double-doubles.
- de Jesus also finished with two service aces and three block assists.
- Amie Greene also had a double-double with 39 assists and 11 digs, to go along with her six kills and two block assists.
- Kenzie Kellerman was the fourth Bulldog with double-digit digs with 16.
Up Next
The Citadel closes out the regular season Monday evening against Samford. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
