MACON, Ga. – The Citadel women's volleyball team dropped its Southern Conference opener, 3-0 (15-25, 16-25, 17-25) to Mercer Friday evening.
 
Game Information
Score: Mercer 3, The Citadel 0
Records: Mercer (5-7, 1-0), The Citadel (4-3, 0-1)
Location: Hawkins Arena (Macon, Georgia)
Series: MER leads 16-2
 
How it Happened

• The Bulldogs got the scoring started as Ali Ruffin put away a kill on the first attack.
• The Citadel would take a 5-3 lead after a service ace from Amie Greene.
• Mercer would shift the momentum at that point as they used a 15-4 run to take an 18-9 lead.
• The Bulldogs were not able to get closer than eight points in dropping the set.
• The second set started with kills from Ruffin, Belle Hogan and Sharlissa de Jesus to open a 3-1 advantage.
• Mercer would go on a run to take the lead before kills from Ruffin and Makaya Middleton brought the Bulldogs with three.
• The Bulldogs later pulled within two points after a block from Alicia Roberts and de Jesus, and an ace from Greene.
• The set would not get any closer as Mercer closed it out with an 8-1 run.
• The teams exchanged points early in the third set until Ruffin teamed with Gina Delancey for a block, and then rattled off three kills to give the Bulldogs a 9-7 advantage.
• Mercer would again use a big run to take a lead that they would carry to the set victory.

 
Inside the Box Score

• Ali Ruffin led the Bulldogs with nine kills. She also added seven digs, two block assists and two assists.
• Sharlissa de Jesus finished with six kills, eight digs and two block assists.
• Makaya Middleton also finished with six kills, to go along with four digs.
• Kenzie Kellerman led the way with 11 digs.

 
Up Next
The Bulldogs return to action Saturday night as they take on Samford. First serve is set for 8 p.m.