JACKSONVILLE, FLA. – The Citadel volleyball team swept their two matches, winning in straight sets against Jacksonville (25-19, 25-20, 25-20) and Bethune-Cookman (25-22, 25-18, 25-12). The Citadel improves its record to 5-5.
Match 1 vs. Jacksonville
Score: The Citadel 3, Jacksonville 0
Records: The Citadel (4-5), Jacksonville (3-7)
Location: Swisher Gymnasium (Jacksonville, Florida)
Key Plays & Stats
- The Citadel started the match by taking the first set at 25-19 over the Dolphins.
- The Bulldogs started the second set strong with an 8-1 lead, thanks to two kills and a service ace from Ali Ruffin.
- A service ace from Jaelynn Elgert and a kill from Sophie Childs grew the Bulldogs lead to seven at 17-10.
- A service error and an attacking error from Jacksonville gave the Bulldogs the second set with a score of 25-20, putting the Bulldogs ahead 2-0.
- Both teams battled back and forth to start the third set until The Citadel scored five unanswered points, giving the Bulldogs a 12-9 lead.
- Back-to-back kills from Aaliyah Byers and Ruffin put the Bulldogs up at 22-16.
- Jacksonville made a late push to come back, but the Dolphins made mistakes, and Ruffin won a one-on-one at the net to secure the set and the match at 25-20.
- The Bulldogs hit a season-high .390 attack percentage compared to Jacksonville's .203.
- Ali Ruffin led the Bulldogs with 16 kills on a .417 attack percentage.
- Sophie Childs hit .500 with 12 kills on 22 attempts.
- Greta Pleuss recorded 26 assists and a team-leading eight digs.
Match 2 vs. Bethune-Cookman
Score: The Citadel 3, Bethune-Cookman 0
Records: The Citadel (5-5), Bethune-Cookman (3-8)
Location: Swisher Gymnasium (Jacksonville, Florida)
Key Plays & Stats
- The Bulldogs started the match strong by gaining a 6-2 lead over the Wildcats.
- Bethune-Cookman went on a 5-0 scoring run to tie the set at 12-12.
- The Bulldogs had a one-point lead at 23-22, but errors committed by the Wildcats allowed The Citadel to take set one at 25-22.
- A kill from Aaliyah Byers and two errors committed by the Wildcats gave the Bulldogs a 19-14 lead in the second set.
- The Bulldogs led by eight points at 24-16, and Byers sealed the victory for the Wildcats in the second set with a kill.
- It was all the Bulldogs in the third set, as the Wildcats only scored 12 points.
- The Citadel had a 10-point lead at 18-8 due to four errors from Bethune and a service ace from Ali Ruffin.
- At the end of the third set, the Bulldogs went on a 4-0 scoring run to win the set and the match with kills from Belle Hogan, Peri Hoshock, and Ruffin, along with a service ace from Megan Stone. The set ended with a score of 25-12.
- Sophie Childs had a stellar match with 12 kills on a .571 attack percentage.
- Aaliyah Byers set the tone in the middle with 11 kills on a .579 attack percentage.
Up Next
The Bulldogs finish the Jacksonville Invitational tomorrow against the Columbia Lions at noon.
