GREENVILLE, N.C. – The Citadel Volleyball team was defeated in the first round of the 2023 National Invitational Volleyball Championships in a 3-0 loss against the East Carolina Pirates (22-25, 17-25, 17-25) on Friday afternoon.
 
Game Information
Score: The Citadel (0), East Carolina (3)
Records: The Citadel (27-4, 14-2), East Carolina (21-10, 11-8)
Location: Williams Arena (Greenville, North Carolina)
 
Key Plays & Stats

• The Bulldogs scored the first two points of set one from a service error and a kill from Maddy Cardenas.
• The Pirates responded with a 6-0 scoring run, giving them the 6-2 lead.
• East Carolina led by as much as eight, but a 5-0 run from the Bulldogs narrowed the gap to three points at 22-19. Gina DeLancey contributed three kills, and Belle Hogan contributed one to spark the run.
• Late efforts from The Citadel were not enough, as ECU would take the first set at 25-22.
• ECU jumped to an early lead to begin the second set, but back-to-back attack errors from the Pirates enabled the Bulldogs to be within one at 8-7.
• The Bulldogs had a chance at 18-16 to make a comeback in the set, but a 7-1 run from East Carolina would end those chances as they would take the second set at 25-17.
• Kills from Mackenzie Martin and Cardenas tied set three at 10-10.
• A 7-0 run from the Pirates gave them an 18-11 lead, which gave ECU a 7-point lead to which they could close out the Bulldogs at 25-17.
• Maddy Cardenas had an impressive performance in her final collegiate match as a Bulldog, recording ten kills on 16 attempts for a .500 attack percentage.
• Ali Ruffin was tied with Cardenas on the team with ten kills and recorded 18 digs.
• Jaelynn Elgert led both teams with 20 digs.
• Belle Hogan recorded 32 assists to lead both teams in the match.