BIRMINGHAM, ALA. – The Citadel fell in the final conference match of the season in straight sets (21-25, 9-25, 20-25) to Samford on Saturday night inside Pete Hanna Center.
 
Gwen Berry led the match with nine kills on the night, followed by Jordyn Sims with seven, and Rachel Reininger with five. Berry also recorded two service aces.
 
Mia Watson recorded a team-high 14 assists, while Lyda Larson contributed ten assists.
 
Jess Martin tallied 13 digs to lead the Bulldogs.
 
Kaleigh Merrit and Greer Golden each recorded eight kills for Samford.
 
Set 1
Samford took an early 5-1 lead over The Citadel in the first set. Their advantage grew to five points at 12-7, but The Citadel was able to chip away and made it 12-11 after a 4-0 run sparked by a kill from Sims. Samford responded with a 5-0 rally, extending the lead to 17-11. Samford maintained the advantage at 21-13, but Alexa Psotka's kill and three straight kills from Berry brought The Citadel to 21-17. The Citadel then closed to 22-20 on a 3-0 run, but a service error by the Bulldogs and a kill from Samford sealed the set at 25-21 for Samford.
 
Set 2
Samford took a 7-1 lead over The Citadel to begin the second set. Their lead would grow to ten points at 13-3, which would be enough as Samford would take the second set over The Citadel at 25-9.
 
Set 3
A 3-0 run by The Citadel, fueled by kills from Sims and Berry and an attack error from Samford, gave the Bulldogs a 4-1 lead. Samford responded with their own 3-0 run to tie the set at 4-4. Both teams battled back and forth until a service error and a kill from Sam Barnes gave The Citadel a two-point advantage at 13-11. Samford then regained the lead with a 4-0 run to make it 16-14. A kill from Reininger made it 20-18, but Samford answered with another 4-0 run to lead 24-18. They ultimately held off The Citadel at 25-20 to win the set and the match.
 
Up Next
The Citadel will compete in the 2025 Southern Conference Volleyball Championships in Asheville, N.C.