KNOXVILLE, TENN. – The Citadel volleyball team opened the Rocky Top Classic by defeating Norfolk State in five (20-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-19, 13-15) Friday evening in Tennessee's Thompson-Boling Arena.
Game Information
Score: Norfolk State (2), The Citadel (3)
Records: Norfolk State (0-5), The Citadel (3-4)
Location: Thompson-Boling Arena (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Series: The Citadel leads (4-0)
How it Happened
- The Citadel came into the first set strong with three kills in a row from Maddy Cardenas, Sadie Gomez, and Sam Barnes.
- Norfolk State was able to put away a few points off of Bulldog errors, but The Citadel went on another kill-run with efforts from Ali Ruffin, Gina Delancey and Cardenas (11-7).
- Although the Spartans were able to pull within one at 19-18, they were not able to secure the lead and the Bulldogs took off again on a 4-0 run.
- The Citadel finished off the set with back-to-back kills from Gomez 25-20.
- Norfolk State began the second set with their first lead of the match (4-2).
- Ruffin, Cardenas and Gomez continued to put away kills and tied the set up several times, but ultimately could not find the lead.
- The Spartans extended their advantage to five points and were able to end the set at 25-22.
- The beginning of the third saw back-to-back kills from Ruffin and Gomez, but they were quickly returned by the Spartans.
- The Bulldogs continued to push on with kills from Ruffin and block assists from Belle Hogan, Makaya Middleton, Delancey and Gomez.
- Norfolk State took a temporary lead, but three kills from Middleton pushed the set back to a tie at 12.
- The Citadel went on an impressive 10-1 run, but Norfolk State stayed steady and pulled back within one forcing a timeout (22-21).
- Ruffin and Gomez each returned with kills to force the set to an end at 25-22.
- The Spartans returned the favor and started the fourth with a 4-0 lead. The Citadel returned a few, but Norfolk State continued to push on and took a five-point lead.
- A 6-1 run from the Bulldogs with kills from Gomez, Middleton and Cardenas tied the set at 13.
- The Spartans responded with a 7-1 run of their own and ended the set at 25-19 after an additional three-point run, forcing the match into a fifth set.
- Both teams came into the fifth with strength and kept the set tight all the way through.
- The set was still tied at 13, but a Spartan attack error and a solo-block from Delancey allowed the set and match to end at 15-13.
Inside the Box Score
- The Citadel recorded three season-highs of 73 single-match kills, 104 digs and 70 assists. Those numbers ranked sixth (kills), ninth (digs) and fourth (assists) on the all-time leaderboard.
- Ali Ruffin led the Bulldogs with two career-highs of 24 kills and 32 digs.
- Maddy Cardenas recorded 13 kills and 4 digs.
- Sadie Gomez followed with 12 kills, matching her career-high set last weekend.
- Belle Hogan handed out 60 assists and 13 digs, both of which were career-highs.
- Gina Delancey (11) and Makaya Middleton (7) both hit season-highs for kills.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will continue tournament action in Knoxville Tenn. on Sept. 10 with New Hampshire at 10:00 a.m. and Tennessee at 6:30 p.m.
