CHARLESTON, S.C. - College of Charleston recorded a season-best 14 blocks en route to a 3-1 match victory (25-18, 20-25, 25-11, 25-19) over The Citadel in the first conference contest of the season at TD Arena on Friday night.
College of Charleston (9-7, 1-0) finished the match with a .236 attack percentage while holding The Citadel (6-6, 0-1) to just .015 from the floor. The 14 team blocks marked the fourth time that CofC has reached double digits in blocks this season.
Freshman Sloane White continued her strong week by leading the Cougars with 14 kills and three block assists. Senior Elyse Chubb hit an impressive .500 as she racked up 10 kills on 16 attempts and turned back seven attempts for blocks.
Junior Kelly Kolich tallied nine kills and Sarah Havel made seven kills and seven total blocks. Kallie McKown registered 27 assists and 11 digs for the double-double while Emily Shelton led the team with 16 digs.
The visiting Bulldogs were led by Kaona Mercer's 10 kills and three blocks. Kathryn Johnston contributed nine kills and Cassie Uribe tallied eight.
The Cougars broke open a tight first set by reeling off five straight points including two aces from Lizzie Theesfeld to take a 12-7 lead, followed by another six-point run to lead 18-8 after numerous Bulldog errors. The Citadel committed thirteen total attacking and receiving errors in the first set and College of Charleston was able to capitalize. College of Charleston won the first set, 25-18, behind a .348 hitting percentage.
The Citadel responded strongly in the second set, using team defense to notch four blocks and 15 digs. The Bulldogs scored the set's first five points. Despite a furious a College of Charleston comeback that saw the Cougars take a 13-10 lead, The Citadel went on the offensive again behind the play of Mercer, breaking a 15-15 tie to lead 21-16. The Cougars could not make up the margin in the final points and The Citadel tied the match by winning set two, 25-20.
College of Charleston bounced back from a low hitting percentage in the second set to put up an efficient .355 in the third as the Cougars rolled to a 25-11 third set victory. White landed five kills with no errors for a .556 attacking mark. After being tied at four, the Cougars went on consecutive four- and five-point swings, eventually leading 21-10. Kills from White and Theesfeld ended the set quickly to the Cougars' advantage.
The CofC defense took charge in the fourth and final set as Shelton tallied seven digs, many of which in spectacular form. The Cougars combined for five blocks with Havel accounting for one solo block and two block assists. The Cougar run came after The Citadel pulled to within four at 14-10. The Cougars won six of the next eight points to lead 20-12. Despite a furious Bulldog rally to bring the margin to 21-18, College of Charleston won the set, 25-19, and the match, 3-1.
The Cougars continue Southern Conference play at home with a match against North Division power, Elon, on Sunday, Sept. 25, at 2 p.m.
