CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Citadel fell in straight sets (13-25, 16-25, 20-25) to Western Carolina on Friday night inside the Ramsey Center.
 
The Citadel recorded 29 kills compared to Western Carolina's 45 kills in three sets.
 
Rachel Reininger led The Citadel in kills with nine, followed by Jordyn Sims at seven and Luci Lippelgoos at six.
 
Lippelgoos was tied in the match with five total blocks, bringing her season total to 62.0 blocks. Savannah Freeman recorded a season-high three blocks.
 
Lydia Larson posted a season-high 23 assists on the night.
 
Tatum Sharp led the Catamounts with 12 kills.
 
Set 1
Western Carolina opened the first set by taking a 6-3 lead over The Citadel. A kill from Reininger narrowed the gap to 6-4. The Catamounts responded with a 5-0 run to take the lead at 11-4. Western Carolina's lead grew to ten points at 19-9, which was enough to hold off The Citadel as they took the first set 25-13.
 
Set 2
Kills from Lippelgoos and Sims tied the set at 3-3 to start the second set. Reininger gave the Bulldogs a one-point lead at 6-5, but the Catamounts regained the lead with a 4-0 run to make it 9-6. Lippelgoos' third kill of the set narrowed Western Carolina's lead to 12-11. The Catamounts increased their lead to seven points on a 6-0 run to make it 18-11. Western Carolina finished the set with back-to-back kills at 25-16.
 
Set 3
The Bulldogs and the Catamounts exchanged points at the start of the third set until Western Carolina went on a 4-0 run, giving them a 13-8 lead. The Citadel responded with an 8-0 rally, sparked by a kill from Sims to take a 16-13 lead. The Catamounts regained the lead on a seven-point run to make it 20-16. A kill from Reininger narrowed the gap to 22-20 late in the third set, but Western Carolina secured the set and the match at 25-20.
 
Up Next
The Citadel travels to Spartanburg, S.C., to play the Wofford Terriers on Oct. 25, with the first serve set for 6 pm.