Bulldogs Drop Five-Set Battle to UNCW

Saturday, August 29

Wilmington, N.C. / Hanover Hall

2:00 PM

The Citadel

1-2,0-0SoCon

UNCW

2-1,0-0CAA

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
The Citadel	25	18	25	22	12	2
UNCW	21	25	12	25	15	3

Bulldogs Drop Five-Set Battle to UNCW

8/29/2026 6:04:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

By: The Citadel Athletics

WILMINGTON, N.C. — The Citadel (1-2) fell to UNCW (2-1) in five sets, 25-21, 18-25, 25-12, 22-25, 12-15, Saturday afternoon at Hanover Hall.

Rachel Reininger recorded a match-high 20 kills, while Greta Pleuss paced the Bulldogs' offense with 48 assists. Jess Martin anchored the defense with a match-high 20 digs. Luci Lippelgoos tied her career high with 10 kills and added four blocks.

For UNCW, Lauren Lewis recorded 10 kills while hitting .316 hitting and added four blocks across five sets. Gaby Zovko tallied 37 assists and added seven kills, seven digs and two service aces. Courtney Graham had a team-high five total blocks and added four kills and three service aces.

The Citadel head coach Dave Zelenock praised the Bulldogs' balanced offense and passing after the match.

"Other than Rachel getting the bulk of the sets, as she should, it was a very balanced offense," Zelenock said. "Everyone else had around 20 attempts, and the passing allowed Greta to spread the ball around."

Zelenock also highlighted Martin's performance after she finished with 20 digs.

"The 20 digs were great, but her passing was really good," Zelenock continued. "Everything she touched was a good pass. Jess really held it down in passing for us and made everyone's life easier."

First Set | 25-21
- The Citadel started strong with Emma Pastusic's kill, setting the tone early.
- Lippelgoos delivered two key kills, keeping the score tied at multiple points.
- A 3-0 scoring run, sparked by a kill from Pastusic, gave the Bulldogs an 11-9 lead.
- The Bulldogs secured the first set 25-21, ending with a kill by Gwen Berry.

Second Set | 18-25
- UNCW took an early lead, with Nadia Wasilewski contributing two kills to make it 5-3.
- The Citadel's Jordyn Sims responded with two kills, narrowing the gap to 7-5.
- A series of attack errors by the Seahawks allowed the Bulldogs to even the score at 12-12.
- The Seahawks finished strong with a series of service aces and a Lewis kill, closing the set 25-18.

Third Set | 25-12
- The Bulldogs opened strong with a 5-0 run, highlighted by Reininger's three consecutive kills.
- The Seahawks responded with a four-point streak, narrowing the gap to 5-4.
- Elizabeth Miller and Lippelgoos each contributed key kills as the Bulldogs extended their lead to 14-8.
- The Bulldogs closed the set with a decisive 25-12 victory, capped by Miller's final kill.

Fourth Set | 22-25
- Zovko started with a kill for the Seahawks, setting an early tone.
- Reininger's kill from Pleuss tied the score at 1-1 for the Bulldogs.
- The Seahawks surged ahead 7-4, highlighted by a Harney service ace.
- The Bulldogs closed the gap to 21-19 with a service ace from Mia Watson.
- The Seahawks secured the set 25-22 with a Lilly Sullivan kill.

Fifth Set | 12-15
- The Seahawks began with a strong 4-0 run, highlighted by a service ace from Graham.
- The Bulldogs responded with Reininger securing three consecutive kills, narrowing the score to 6-4.
- Macon Butler added a crucial kill for the Seahawks, extending their lead to 8-4.
- The Bulldogs stayed competitive with Pastusic contributing two kills, but the Seahawks finished the set 15-12.

The Bulldogs will host College of Charleston at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3 at McAlister Field House as part of the opening day of competition at The Lowcountry Volleyball Championship.