Reininger Posts 19 Kills as Bulldogs Fall to Buccaneers

Saturday, September 5

Charleston, S.C.

6:00 PM

The Citadel

2-4,0-0SoCon

Charleston Southern

4-2,0-0Big South

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Charleston So.	23	25	25	25	3
The Citadel	25	23	23	20	1

Reininger Posts 19 Kills as Bulldogs Fall to Buccaneers

9/5/2026 9:44:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

By: The Citadel Athletics

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Citadel (2-4) fell to Charleston Southern (4-2), 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 23-25, 20-25), Saturday night on the final day of the Lowcountry Volleyball Championship at McAlister Field House.

Rachel Reininger led the Bulldogs with a match-high 19 kills and 20 points while adding two block assists. Jess Martin recorded 23 digs and two assists, while Allie Davison finished with 43 assists, 10 digs and two service aces.
Emma Pastusic added 10 kills, one service ace and one block. Pastusic has recorded at least 10 kills in two consecutive matches.

Faith Burch led Charleston Southern with 17 kills and 21 points while adding nine digs, four block assists and two service aces. Emma Bednarek recorded 14 kills, five total blocks and 17 points. Tristin Sutton finished with 42 assists and 10 digs, while Brynn Minter added nine kills, nine digs, two service aces and two block assists.

Head coach Dave Zelenock on the Bulldogs' performance:
"Offensively, the numbers weren't phenomenal, and we made a lot of errors, but I think they were the kind we like to see: people going for it and missing rather than taking a 50% shot and missing. That's what we founded this program on, and that's how our young players must grow. Defensively, I thought we did a solid job. No. 14, their lefty, was their big star, but we controlled many of their other players who could go off. I'm happy with our defense, but offensively, we need to be more balanced. We relied on Emma and Rachel a little too much, and we need to get our middles and right sides more involved the next time we play them."

First Set | 25-23

Davison served the Bulldogs to a 3-0 start with two aces around a Charleston Southern attack error. Kills from Jordyn Sims, Luci Lippelgoos, Pastusic and Reininger helped The Citadel build an 11-6 advantage.
The Bulldogs extended their lead to 20-13 behind kills from Lippelgoos, Pastusic and Reininger, along with a Pastusic block and a Mia Watson service ace.
Charleston Southern scored six consecutive points to tie the set at 22-22. After another tie at 23-23, Sims delivered consecutive kills to give the Bulldogs a 25-23 opening-set victory.

Second Set | 23-25

Pastusic recorded three early kills as the teams traded points before consecutive Charleston Southern attack errors gave the Bulldogs a 10-9 lead.
The Buccaneers broke a 13-13 tie with a 5-1 run to take an 18-14 advantage, aided by a Minter service ace and three Citadel attack errors.
The Bulldogs rallied from an 18-15 deficit to take a 20-19 lead behind kills from Sims, Elizabeth Miller and Reininger, a Gwen Berry service ace and a Sims block.
Charleston Southern regained the lead before a Sims kill and Watson service ace pulled The Citadel within 24-23. The Buccaneers secured the next point to take the set, 25-23.

Third Set | 23-25

Charleston Southern built an early 6-2 lead before the Bulldogs battled back to tie the set at 8-8 behind Reininger kills and a Buccaneers attack error.
The Buccaneers pushed ahead 14-9, but Pastusic's serving run helped The Citadel draw even at 16-16. Reininger recorded two kills during the run, while Lippelgoos added a kill and Pastusic delivered a service ace.
Charleston Southern responded with four consecutive points to take a 20-16 lead, but the Bulldogs rallied again and tied the set at 22-22 on a Berry service ace.
The Buccaneers scored three of the final four points, with Burch recording the deciding kill in a 25-23 Charleston Southern victory.

Fourth Set | 20-25

The Bulldogs took an early 3-1 lead behind kills from Miller and Sims. Reininger later recorded three kills during a stretch that put The Citadel ahead 8-7.
After Miller tied the set at 10-10, Charleston Southern scored five consecutive points behind kills from Burch, Minter and Bednarek to take a 15-10 lead.
The Citadel cut an 18-13 deficit to 18-17 behind a Reininger kill, two Miller kills and a Charleston Southern setting error.
The Buccaneers later reached match point at 24-18 before a Reininger-Miller block, and Berry's service ace kept the Bulldogs alive. Charleston Southern secured the following point to take the set, 25-20, and the match.

Up Next
The Bulldogs travel to North Charleston for a rematch with Charleston Southern on Thursday, Sept. 10. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Buccaneer Fieldhouse.