CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel volleyball team splits day two of the Rocky Top Classic by defeating sweeping New Hampshire (25-13, 25-12, 25-23) and falling to Tennessee in three (23-25, 14-25, 18-25) Saturday in Tennessee's Thompson Boling Arena. 

Game Information
Score: The Citadel (3), New Hampshire (0)
Records: The Citadel (4-4), New Hampshire (5-5)
Location: Thompson-Boling Arena (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Series: The Citadel leads 1-0


How it Happened
 

• The Bulldogs started off the match with a 4-0 lead with a kill from Makaya Middleton and block assists from Ali Ruffin, Sadie Gomez, and Middleton.
• New Hampshire put away a few points, but The Citadel took off on yet another run with kills from Ruffin, Gina Delancey and a service ace from Kenzie Kellerman for a five-point lead. 
• Three kills from Maddy Cardenas and two from Ruffin extended the lead and forced the Wildcats into a timeout (17-11).
• The Citadel ended the first set on a 6-1 streak consisting of back-to-back kills from Ruffin (25-13).
• Points were evenly exchanged at the beginning of the second and the set was still tied up at 10-10.
• Kills from Ruffin, Delancey, Belle Hogan and two service aces from Jaelynn Elgert gave the Bulldogs the edge they needed to take another five-point lead. 
• The Citadel continued their momentum and ended up going on an 11-point run, finishing the set with a service ace from Kellerman and kill from Ruffin (25-12).
• The Bulldogs started the third with a 3-1 lead, but it was quickly returned by the Wildcats. 
• A four-point run assisted in Norfolk State taking the 12-9 advantage.
• Norfolk State pushed to extend their lead to 21-15, but two kills from Gomez and two service aces from Cardenas allowed a six-point Bulldog run to tie the set 23-23.
• Two Wildcat attack errors solidified a 25-23 win for the Bulldogs. 

• The Bulldogs performed their first sweep of the season and recorded a season-high with a .295 attack percentage. 
• Makaya Middleton bested her season-high she set yesterday with 10 kills. 
• Brooke Shively marked a career-high of 11 digs.
• Ali Ruffin led the team with 14 kills and eight digs. 
• Jaelynn Elgert put away 14 digs and matched her career-high of four service aces. 

• The Bulldogs started the match strong and immediately took a 5-0 lead with kills from Sadie Gomez, Maddy Cardenas and Makaya Middleton, forcing Tennessee into an early timeout. 
• Tennessee returned a few points after their timeout, but additional kills from Ali Ruffin, Gina Delancey and Cardenas kept the Bulldogs at an 8-3 lead. 
• Tennessee errors and kills from Ruffin and Middleton kept the Bulldogs in the lead, but the Volunteers were persistent and met back up at 22.
• A kill from Gomez was not enough to stop Tennessee and they ended the set on back-to-back kills (25-23).
• Tennessee took a quick 8-1 lead at the beginning of the second set. 
• Kills from Middleton and Delancey allowed the Bulldogs to pull within three before the Vols took off on another run. 
• Efforts from Ruffin, Middleton and Cardenas were not enough to prevent Tennessee from ending the set 25-14. 
• The Bulldogs united to take a 5-1 lead at the start of the third. Points continued to be exchanged until Tennessee met up at 12.
• The teams were evenly matched with kills from Gomez and Middleton until 17, but the Vols continued their momentum and took off on a six-point run, ending the set 25-18.

• The Bulldogs recorded a season-high for digs for a 3-set game (48)
• Makaya Middleton led The Citadel with 14 kills.
• Maddy Cardenas followed with 13 kills and five digs.
• Belle Hogan handed out 33 assists, eight digs and one service ace. 

 
Up Next
The Bulldogs will return to McAlister Field House for their home-opener against Charleston Southern on Tuesday Sept. 13. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m. and the match will be streamed on ESPN+.