TROY, ALA. – The Citadel volleyball team fell in four sets against Kennesaw State (25-20, 14-25, 22-25, 23-25) on Friday afternoon inside Trojan Arena.
Score: Kennesaw State 3, The Citadel 1
Records: The Citadel (3-5), Kennesaw State (3-5)
Location: Trojan Arena (Troy, Alabama)
Key Plays & Stats
- The Bulldogs got off to a great start with a 12-7 lead thanks to a 3-0 scoring run. Aaliyah Byers recorded a solo block and a kill, and Mackenzie Martin also contributed with a kill.
- The Citadel's lead would jump as much as six at 15-9, but the Owls went on a 5-0 scoring run to narrow the lead to just one at 15-14.
- A kill from Ali Ruffin sparked a 5-1 run to increase the Bulldog's lead to 22-17, which was all the Bulldogs would need to take the set at 25-20.
- The Bulldogs recorded a .452 hitting percentage with 14 kills in the first set.
- The second set didn't favor the Bulldogs as Kennesaw State took the set at 25-15.
- The Bulldogs took a five-point lead at the start of set three with two kills from Sophie Childs.
- • The Citadel held a 15-11 lead, but Kennesaw rallied to score five straight points and take the lead 16-15.
- Kennesaw didn't look back as another five-point scoring run would guide them to a 25-22 set three win.
- Two early aces from Greta Pleuss and a kill from Ruffin allowed the Bulldogs to take the lead at 7-6 early in the fourth set.
- Both teams would continue battling in the remaining set as neither could pull away.
- The Bulldogs, late in the fourth, had a two-point lead at 20-18, but Kennesaw rallied to take the lead at 21-20.
- The Owls pulled away after being tied at 23-23 with two points to take the match and the set at 25-23.
- Greta Pleuss started in her first collegiate match after making her debut the night before. Pleuss had an outstanding match, recording 35 assists, 14 digs, and two service aces.
- Ali Ruffin recorded her fifth double-double on the season with 16 kills and a season-high 29 digs.
- Sophie Childs (13) and Mackenzie Martin (11) recorded double-digit kills.
Up Next
The Bulldogs journey to Jacksonville, Florida, to play in the Jacksonville Invitational on Sept 20-21.