NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel Volleyball team recorded two wins against Florida A&M 3-2 (26-24, 25-20, 13-25, 20-25, 15-13) and South Carolina State 3-0 (26-24, 25-12, 25-14) on Friday afternoon on day one of the Buccaneer Invitational.
 
Game Information
Score:  The Citadel (3), Florida A&M (2)
Records: The Citadel (10-0), Florida A&M (2-8)
Location: Buccaneer Fieldhouse (North Charleston, South Carolina)
Series: The Citadel leads 4-0
 
How it Happened

• Ali Ruffin gave the Bulldogs the 7-2 lead with a kill early in the first set.
• FAMU answered back on a 4-0 run to narrow the lead to 7-6.
• The Rattlers gained a 13-9 advantage after scoring a point with a service ace.
• The lead by FAMU would grow to as much as seven at 19-12.
• Kills from Angelina Sayles, Mackenzie Martin, and Maddy Cardenas sparked a 7-0 run to give the Bulldogs the lead at 23-21.
• Efforts from FAMU would not be enough as the Bulldogs would take set one.
• The Bulldogs started the second set on a 5-0 run.
• The Citadel's lead grew to 15-8 from an attack error committed by FAMU.
• Back-to-back service aces from Mia Watson gave the Bulldogs the 20-16 lead.
• A kill from Ruffin allowed the Bulldogs to take the second set at 25-20.
• Florida A&M took the 4-0 lead to begin the third set.
• The Rattlers' lead grew to 13-3 from a service ace.
• A kill from Ruffin sparked a 6-0 run to narrow the lead to 19-13.
• FAMU ended the third set on their own 6-0 run at 25-13.
• Both teams went back and forth to begin the fourth set.
• A service ace from Belle Hogan tied the set at 10-10.
• FAMU jumped to a 16-10 lead from five kills.
• A 5-0 run from The Citadel narrowed the lead to 24-20, but a kill from the Rattlers ended the Bulldogs chances.
• Kills from Sam Barnes and Sayles allowed the Bulldogs to take an 8-7 lead in the fifth set.
• The Citadel pulled ahead of FAMU in the fifth set with two kills from Gina Delancey and Hogan and a service ace from Ruffin to take the match.

Inside the Box Score

• The Bulldogs totaled 53 kills on a .200 attack percentage.
• Both teams were tied with 6.0 blocks.
• Ali Ruffin posted a double-double with 18 kills and 17 digs; Ruffin added four service aces.
• Belle Hogan posted 27 assists to lead the team.

Game Information
Score:  The Citadel (3), South Carolina State (0)
Records: The Citadel (11-0), South Carolina State (0-11)
Location: Buccaneer Fieldhouse (North Charleston, South Carolina)
Series: The Citadel leads 23-6
 
How it Happened

• South Carolina State started the first set on a 5-0 run.
• A kill from Kathleen Bula tied the set at 5-5.
• South Carolina State jumped to a 13-7 lead, but the Bulldogs battled back to narrow the lead at 13-11.
• Two attack errors committed by South Carolina State and a kill from Sadie Gomez tied the set at 19-19.
• SC State tied the set at 24-24, but the Bulldogs clinched the set with a kill from Sam Barnes at 26-24.
• Kills from Mackenzie Martin and Belle Hogan gave the early lead at 8-4 in the second set.
• A 6-0 run by the Bulldogs, sparked by Ali Ruffin's kill, gave them the lead at 15-9.
• Two kills from Angelina Sayles and Martin gave The Citadel the 20-11 advantage.
• Four straight points by The Citadel allowed them to secure the second set at 25-12.
• A service ace by Sayles and a kill by Gina Delancey gave the Bulldogs a 9-4 lead to start the third set.
• A 7-0 run by The Citadel was started by a Martin kill, giving the Bulldogs a 22-12 lead.
• The Bulldogs took the set and the match from an attack error committed by South Carolina State.

Inside the Box Score

• The Citadel recorded 39 kills, 36 digs, and six service aces against South Carolina State.
• Nine Bulldogs posted at least one kill.
• Angelina Sayles led the Bulldogs in kills with nine on a .222 attack percentage.
• Belle Hogan recorded 31 assists.

Up Next
The Bulldogs will face the Charleston Southern Buccaneers on day two of the Buccaneer Invitational.