CHARLESTON, S.C. --- Senior
Molly Russell smashed down 28 kills and hit an even .500 to lead the College of Charleston volleyball team to a pair of 3-1 wins over Campbell and Florida A&M on Saturday afternoon at the CofC Classic in TD Arena.
The Cougars (6-4) defeated Campbell (2-7) by scores of 25-12, 25-21, 23-25 and 25-23 before closing out the day with a 25-19, 25-19, 20-25, 25-16 victory against Florida A&M (5-4).
Critical Point
With the score knotted at 13-13 in the fourth set against Florida A&M, the Cougars embarked on a 7-0 run – capped by a kill from
Gabi Bailey - to open a 20-13 lead en route to a 25-16 match-clinching win.
Key Cougars
- Russell lit up Campbell for 15 kills and five blocks while hitting a scorching .591. She then capped the day with 13 kills, three blocks and a .423 attacking clip against Florida A&M.
- Bailey put down 29 kills – including 15 against the Rattlers – to go along with 22 digs and four aces.
- Freshman Emma Appleman totaled 93 assists (11.63/set) including 47 in the four-set win over Campbell. The Guilford, Conn. native also added 19 digs and five blocks.
- Appleman posted a double-double with 46 assists, 14 digs and two blocks against Florida A&M.
- Sophomore Sammy Campion collected 41 digs (5.13/set) to pace the back row.
- Claire Campbell collected 13 kills and a team-best 11 blocks on the day – including seven stuffs against the Rattlers.
Game Notes
- The Cougars combined for 56 kills, 62 digs, 12 blocks, nine aces and a .257 hitting percentage against Campbell.
- Charleston equaled that kill total of 56 against Florida A&M in addition to 80 digs, 10 aces and seven blocks.
- Campion paced five Cougars with double-figure dig totals against the Rattlers with 19; Bailey chipped in 12 to account for a double-double with 15 kills as well.
- Freshman Tynley Smeltzer recorded 11 digs, two assists and two aces in the win over Florida A&M.
- Senior Brooke Harris chipped in 14 digs and a match-high four aces against Florida A&M.
- Freshman Kaylin Collins reached double figures in kills for the first time in her career with 10 against the Rattlers.
- Lexi Wierzbicki accumulated 20 kills on the day including 12 against Florida A&M.
Up Next
The Cougars return to the court on Sunday in the final match of the CofC Classic against Davidson. First serve is slated for 1:00 p.m. from TD Arena.