GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Citadel volleyball team lost a five-set match in the opening round of the Southern Conference Championships (25-23, 25-19, 22-25, 22-25, 15-9) against Samford on Friday night.
 
Game Information
Score:  The Citadel (2), Samford (3)
Records:  The Citadel (11-19, 4-12), Samford (17-12, 11-5)
Location: Timmons Arena (Greenville, South Carolina)

How it Happened

• The opening set of the match was back-and-forth between both teams.
• Back-to-back kills from Ali Ruffin gave the Bulldogs an 8-7 lead.
• Samford would take advantage of two Bulldogs' attack errors to give the lead.
• Two kills from Kathleen Bula, and a service ace from Jaelynn Elgert tied the set at 13-13.
• The Citadel took the lead 22-20 off two kills in a row from Makaya Middleton.
• Samford ends set one on four straight points.
• The Citadel took an early lead in the second set from a Kathleen Bula kill, 4-3
• Samford scored three points in a row to give them a five-point advantage.
• The Bulldogs would tie the match off four straight kills.
• A late kill from Ruffin would not be enough as Samford wins the second set.
• Samford jumped to a 4-0 to start the third set, but the Bulldogs sparked a 6-0 scoring run from a Belle Hogan kill.
• Two kills from Bula and Ruffin extend the Bulldogs' lead by three.
• A kill from Samford tied the set at 19-19.
• The Bulldogs take set three from a Sam Barnes kill and a service error committed by Samford.
• The Citadel took a 10-5 advantage over Samford to start the fourth set.
• Samford evened up the match at 12-12 with a kill.
• The Bulldogs would take a five-point lead off three Ruffin kills at 20-15.
• Late efforts would not be enough from Samford as the Bulldogs would even up the match from a solo block from Hogan.
• The Bulldogs take advantage of three errors committed by Samford to narrow their lead by one to start the fifth set.
• The Citadel had a chance to even up the set, but Samford registered two kills and an ace to extend their lead.
• Efforts by the Bulldogs were insufficient, as Samford would take the match 15-9.

 
Inside the Box Score

•  Setter Belle Hogan registered the first-ever triple-double in the program's history with ten kills, 11 digs, and 40 assists.
• The Bulldogs had four players in double figures in kills.
• Ali Ruffin posted a double-double with a team-leading 19 kills and 18 digs.
• Sam Barnes set a career-high in kills with nine.
• Makaya Middleton and Kathleen Bula registered 24 kills. Middleton with 11 kills and Bula with 13 kills.
• Kenzie Kellerman had a match-high 24 digs in her last match as a Bulldog.