Match Preview
The Citadel volleyball team returns to McAlister Field House for two conference matches: one against the Samford Bulldogs on Oct. 17 at 6pm, and another against the Chattanooga Mocs on Oct. 18 at 7 pm.
 
About the Bulldogs
The Citadel is 0-16 overall and 0-6 in SoCon conference play, having fallen in straight sets to ETSU and lost in a five-set thriller to UNCG.
 
Rachel Reininger shined for the Bulldogs last weekend, recording 38 kills with an average of 4.75 per set. She set a career high with 27 kills against the Spartans. She leads The Citadel with 127 kills. Gwen Berry continues to contribute, recording a career-high 16 kills against UNCG. She ranks second on the team with 75 kills.
 
Greta Pleuss led the Bulldogs' offense against UNCG with a career-high 52 assists, bringing her total this season to 363 assists, averaging 6.72 per set.
 
KK Domek set a career-high 20 digs against UNCG, bringing her season total to 62.
 
Luci Lippelgoos leads The Citadel with 54.0 total blocks, and her 19 solo blocks rank second in the Southern Conference. Lippelgoos posted a career-high eight total blocks against UNCG.
 
Scouting Samford
Samford has a 6-11 overall record and a 1-5 record in the SoCon, with a win over Western Carolina and a five-set loss to Chattanooga last weekend. Kaleigh Merrit, a 6-2 outside hitter, leads the team in kills with 241, averaging 3.77 per set, which ranks her fourth in the SoCon. Ally Cordes ranks behind Merrit in the conference with 233 kills.
 
Scouting Chattanooga
The Mocs hold a 10-8 overall record and are 4-2 in the SoCon, currently on a three-game winning streak. Chattanooga will face Furman on Oct. 17 before playing The Citadel. Sydney Jackwin, a 5-9 outside hitter, leads the Mocs with 242 kills, averaging 3.41 per set, which ranks her third in the SoCon.
 
Series History
The Citadel and Samford have met 31 times on the court, with Samford leading the series at 25-6. The Citadel lost both regular-season matches to Samford last year but won a five-set thriller in the SoCon Championships.
 
The Citadel and Chattanooga have played each other 42 times, with Chattanooga holding the series at 32-10. The Citadel is on a four-match winning streak against Chattanooga.
 
Once a Player, Now a Legend
The Citadel athletics will retire Sharlissa de Jesus' No. 11 jersey, making her the first women cadet-athlete to have her jersey retired at The Citadel. The retirement ceremony will take place before the Samford match on Oct. 17 at McAlister Field House.
 
One of the most decorated players in The Citadel and Southern Conference history, de Jesus led The Citadel to the 2021 Southern Conference Championship title and a trip to the NCAA tournament, where the Bulldogs faced Georgia Tech.
 
Up Next
The Citadel heads to Western Carolina on Oct. 24 and then to Wofford on Oct. 25.