GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Citadel fell in a five-set thriller against UNCG (25-17, 17-25, 25-23, 22-25, 10-15) despite multiple career-highs from the Bulldogs on Friday night inside Fleming Gymnasium.
 
Rachel Reininger recorded a career-high 27 kills with a .411 hitting percentage on 56 attempts. She led both teams in kills. Gwen Berry achieved a career-high 16 kills with a .244 hitting percentage.
 
Greta Pleuss achieved a career-high 52 assists, which is her first 50-plus assist match of her career.
 
KK Domek recorded a career-high 20 digs.
 
Luci Lippelgoos recorded a total of eight blocks, including three solo blocks and five block assists. Her eight blocks are the most in her career. She now has 54.0 total blocks on the season.
 
Allie Sweet led the Spartans with 25 kills.
 
Set 1
The Citadel jumped to an early 5-3 lead over the Spartans with a kill from Reininger. The Bulldogs then went on a 4-0 scoring streak to extend their lead to four points at 10-6. A service ace from Pleuss increased The Citadel's advantage to seven points at 15-8. Three attack errors by UNCG gave the Bulldogs a nine-point lead at 21-12. A kill from Lippelgoos and a bad set from UNCG secured the Bulldogs' win in set one.
 
Set 2
Four consecutive kills from UNCG gave them a 4-0 lead to start the second set. The Citadel responded with a 5-0 scoring run to take a one-point lead at 6-5. The Spartans answered with their own scoring run to lead 13-8. A kill from Reininger narrowed the Spartans' lead to two points at 15-13. UNCG went on a late run to lead by seven at 22-16, which was enough to hold off The Citadel and take the set 25-17.
 
Set 3
The Citadel held a two-point lead over UNCG after a 5-0 scoring run, fueled by three kills from Reininger and two service aces from Ainsley Dowling, making it 10-8. Three attack errors by The Citadel tied the set at 16-16, but the Bulldogs responded with a 3-0 scoring streak, including two aces from Berry to push ahead 19-16. A block from the Spartans tied the set late at 22-22, but two late kills from Berry and a service ace from Jess Martin led the Bulldogs to a 25-23 set three victory.
 
Set 4
A block from Lippelgoos and Pleuss gave The Citadel an early 5-4 lead to start the fourth set. The Spartans then went on a 3-0 run to take a three-point advantage over the Bulldogs at 11-8. Two kills from Reininger and a kill from Berry narrowed the Spartans' lead to 14-13. A late 5-0 scoring run by UNCG increased their lead to 20-14. The Citadel managed to cut the deficit with three consecutive points, bringing the score to 22-19. The Spartans maintained the lead at 24-19, but a 3-0 run by The Citadel narrowed it to 24-22. UNCG preserved their lead with a kill to force the fifth set.
 
Set 5
UNCG took an early 5-2 lead with a 4-0 run to start the fifth set. A kill from Reininger made it a two-point game at 6-4. The Spartans continued to hold the Bulldogs with a 3-0 run, increasing their lead to 9-4. A late kill from Reininger was not enough, as UNCG secured the match with a kill at 15-10.
 
Up Next
The Citadel returns home to McAlister Field House to face Samford on Oct. 17 at 6 pm and then plays Chattanooga on Oct. 18 at 7 pm. The Citadel will honor Sharlissa de Jesus before the match against Samford.