LINCOLN, NEB. – The Citadel volleyball team split their Friday matches with a 3-1 victory over Montana State and a 1-3 loss over Denver inside Bob Devaney Sports Center.
Match #1 Information
Score: The Citadel 3, Montana State 1
Records: The Citadel (3-2), Montana State (1-3)
Location: Bob Devaney Sports Center
Key Plays & Stats
- The Bulldogs jumped to a four-point lead at 8-4 with four kills in a row.
- A block from Mackenzie Martin and Peri Hoshock extended the Bulldogs' lead to 23-17.
- Montana State made a small run at the end, but it wasn't good enough as the Bulldogs took the first set at 25-21.
- Montana State was able to tie the match during the second set with a 25-21 set win over the Bulldogs.
- Despite losing the second set, The Citadel rallied to win sets three and four with scores of 25-23 and 25-18, respectively.
- The Citadel totaled 60 kills with an attack percentage of .265 compared to Montana State's 48.
- Ali Ruffin recorded a match-high 20 kills, followed by 13 digs.
- Belle Hogan posted 52 assists and 14 digs on the day. Her career total in assists is now 3,381.
- Jaelynn Elgert tallied 20 digs on the day.
Match #2 Information
Score: Denver 3, The Citadel 1
Records: The Citadel (3-3), Denver (3-2)
Key Plays & Stats
- The Citadel established a commanding lead in the first set at 15-9, partly due to a 5-0 scoring run, including two kills from Aaliyah Byers and Ali Ruffin.
- The Bulldogs' lead grew too much to nine points at 21-12 from a 6-0 scoring run.
- Denver started to make a run, but it wasn't enough as the Bulldogs pulled away at 25-19.
- The second set went back and forth between both teams. The Bulldogs would extend their lead to 17-15 from a kill from Belle Hogan and an attack error from Denver.
- Denver managed to go on a four-point scoring run to take the lead over the Bulldogs at 20-18.
- It would be a battle for the Bulldogs as they would pull within one at 24-23, but a service error committed by the Bulldogs allowed Denver to take set two.
- Set three would unfold similarly to set two, with both teams battling to take the lead from each other. The Bulldogs would pull within two at 23-21, but Denver would take set three at 25-23.
- Set four didn't favor the Bulldogs as Denver would jump to a 22-14 lead. Ultimately, Denver would take set four and the match at 25-20.
- Mackenzie Martin (12), Sophie Childs (12), Ali Ruffin (11), and Aaliyah Byers (10) were in double-digit kills.
- Belle Hogan registered 37 assists.
- Jaelynn Elgert recorded a team-high 27 digs.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will play in the Troy Invitational on Sept. 12-13 in Troy, Alabama.
