CHARLESTON, S.C. – Former The Citadel volleyball and track & field cadet-athlete,
Ali Ruffin '25, was named as one of the two 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year Nominees for the Southern Conference.
Ruffin joins Western Carolina's Kirsten Hahn as the two nominees for the conference office.
The native of Greenville, N.C., had an outstanding athletic career as a Bulldog on the court. Ruffin was named the 2021 Rayna Taylor SoCon Freshman of the Year and the 2023 Southern Conference Player of the Year for volleyball.
Not only did Ruffin have a successful career on the court for The Citadel, but she was also an outstanding field athlete for the Bulldogs, winning the Southern Conference javelin title in 2024, finishing second in 2025, and taking third in 2023. Ruffin holds the all-time school record in the javelin.
Ruffin's Volleyball Accolades
2021 Rayna Taylor SoCon Freshman of the Year
2021 Southern Conference All-Freshman Team
2021 Southern Conference All-Tournament Team
2021 Southern Conference Champion
2022 Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Month
2022 Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Week
2022 Fall Academic All-Southern Conference Team
2023 Southern Conference Player of the Year
2023 Southern Conference First Team
2023 Two-time Southern Conference Player of the Month
2023 Five-time Southern Conference Player of the Week
2024 Southern Conference Preseason All-SoCon
2024 Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Week
2024 Southern Conference All-Second Team
2025 Southern Conference Presidential Scholarship recipient
Ranks second all-time in kills with 1,599 and ranks third all-time in digs with 1,531.
Ranks fifth all-time in service aces with 136
Ranks third all-time in digs per set with 3.25
Holds the school record with kills in a season with 529 in 2023
Holds the school record with kills per set with 4.52 in a season in 2023.
Member of the 2021 Southern Conference Volleyball Championship team.
Member of the 20223 Southern Conference Volleyball Regular Season Championship team
The first championship for volleyball and the first championship for a women's sport at The
Citadel
The 2023 season was the first regular-season championship for volleyball
Ruffin's Track & Field Accolades
2023 Southern Conference All-Conference Honors Javelin (3rd place)
2024 Southern Conference Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week
2024 Southern Conference Outdoor Javelin Champion
2025 Two-time Southern Conference Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week
2025 Southern Conference All-Conference Honors Javelin (2nd place)
Holds the school record in the javelin with 159-3
Competed in the 2025 NCAA Track & Field Championships East First Round, 2024 NCAA
Track & Field East First Round, 2023 NCAA Track & Field East First Round
