Cougars Drop Matches to #17 Arkansas, Troy Friday

Friday, September 8

Bowling Green, Ky.

2 PM

College of Charleston

3-6,0-0CAA

Arkansas

5-2,0-0SEC

Col. of Charleston

Arkansas

9/8/2023 8:24:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CHARLESTON, S.C. --- College of Charleston volleyball fell in their two matches Friday to open the WKU Invitational, coming up short against No. 17 Arkansas 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-12) and Troy 3-1 (25-23, 25-14, 18-25, 25-17).

The Razorbacks hit just below .400 and had eight service aces in the three-set win Friday afternoon while holding Charleston to just .108. The evening match saw Charleston match a season-high with 10 blocks against the Trojans, but Troy had 13 of their own and used 12-plus kills from the trio of Tori Hester, Julia Brooks and Amiah Butler to edge past the Cougars.

QUICK SETS
Final Score (Match One): #17 Arkansas 3, Charleston 0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-12)
Final Score (Match Two): Troy 3, Charleston 1 (25-23, 25-14, 18-25, 25-17)
Location: Bowling Green, Ky. (E.A. Diddle Arena)
Records: Charleston (3-7), Arkansas (5-2), Troy (1-6)

Key Cougars

Anna Smith (18), Lexi Wierzbicki (15) and Sopheea Mink (15) all finished with 15-plus kills across the two matches with Smith putting down a team-high 14 in the loss to Troy.
Sofie Vogel had eight blocks between the two matches highlighted by her six against Troy to match a season and career-high.
Tynley Smeltzer had four service aces in the nightcap and 18 digs – both season-best marks from the junior. Smeltzer had three of her four aces in the third set versus Troy helping propel the Cougars to a 10-0 run.
Elli Kinney led the Charleston backline with 26 digs on the day – 3.71 per set.

Match Notes

Charleston had a season-high 10-point run in the third set versus Troy turning a 13-8 deficit into an 18-13 lead before closing out the set by a 25-18 margin.
During that Cougar run, Tynley Smeltzer collected three of her match-high four service aces and Sofie Vogel added three-straight kills to turn the tide.
Vogel would match a career-high of six blocks and sophomore middle Bella Sinacori added a career-best four in the loss to Troy.
Charleston matched a season-high with 10 team blocks against Troy matching the mark set against West Virginia on Aug. 26.

Up Next
The Cougars finish their nonconference slate Saturday afternoon with the host Western Kentucky, first serve is set for 1:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. CT.