CHARLESTON, S.C. – College of Charleston had a program record 14 service aces in four sets as the Cougars defeated The Citadel (25-14, 25-16, 22-25, 25-21) Monday evening at TD Arena.
 
Freshman Julia Gnida aced the Bulldogs five times, including the program record 14th in the fourth set of the match. Gnida added in nine kills and eight digs to go along with the service aces.
 
CRITICAL POINTS AGAINST THE CITADEL:

• CofC came out of the gates strong, hitting .333 in the first set with five service aces.
• Charleston had four aces in the second set and five more in set four.
• Graduate student Izzy Marinelli continued her strong start to the season hitting .452 with a game-high 14 kills.
• Five different Cougars had six-plus digs, led by freshman Jumana Martin's 20.
• Martin, sophomores Cole Crews and Emma Duffield and junior Lauren Dow each had a pair of aces in the victory.

 
OF NOTE:

• Charleston is 33-2 all time against The Citadel and 30-0 at home.
• The Cougars' 14 service aces is a program record in four sets, breaking the record of 13 set at Northeastern on Nov. 6, 2021.
• Gnida is the second Cougar with five service aces in a match in 2025, joining Duffield.
• Gnida has 23 kills in the last two contests after having 25 across her first four appearances.
• Marinelli has double digit kills in five of the seven games, including 14 in two.
• CofC played just its eighth match on a Monday under head coach Jason Kepner, improving to 4-4.
• Martin's 139 digs this season leads the Coastal Athletic Association.

 
UP NEXT:
Charleston finishes tournament action with the Steve Baumrind Invitational Sept. 12-14 at TD Arena. The Cougars welcome Stetson, Youngstown State and Quinnipiac to the Holy City.
 
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