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Box Score 2 CHARLESTON, S.C. – The opening day of the Bulldog Invitational was unkind to the Jacksonville State volleyball team as the Gamecocks fell victim to Winthrop and The Citadel on Friday inside the McAlister Field House on the campus of The Citadel.
Career highs in kills from junior
Mackenzie Rombach (17) and freshman
Madison Cooler (12), along with a season-best 15-kill performance from
Charis Ludtke weren't enough as the Gamecocks were edged by a scrappy Winthrop squad in a five-set thriller.
The Gamecocks started fast in the opening set jumping out to a 4-0 advantage, but Winthrop slowly pulled its way back to a 9-9 tie, and later began to expand its lead at 17-14 before taking the first, 25-21. JSU bounced back to win a close second set, 25-22, and then pulled away late in the third for the 25-19 victory.
The fourth frame went back-and-forth. JSU took three straight points to break a 7-7 tie, but the Eagles quickly fought back and tied the set at 15-15. Jax State had its chance to clinch the match with a late 23-22 lead, but Winthrop fought hard for the final three points to force a decisive fifth game.
In the fifth, JSU won the first point but then had to chase down WU the remainder of the game. The Eagles led 8-4 at the change and reached match point with a 14-10 lead. JSU fought off two match points before falling, 15-12.
Jennifer Hart dished 46 assists in the afternoon setback, while
Hannah Kirk led the way with 21 digs on defense.
Against tournament host The Citadel Friday night, the Gamecocks found themselves in just as tight of a contest as in the morning.
The two squads exchanged 25-23 sets to begin with as the Bulldogs winning the first, followed by JSU taking the second. In the third, a 10-2 run for the home team propelled them ahead of JSU, 18-14, and held on for the two sets to one lead. JSU trailed again late in the fourth, 15-10, but rallied to even the score at 21. Unfortunately, the comeback could not be completed as the Gamecocks fell 25-22.
JSU returns to action against Charleston Southern at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, before wrapping up the Bulldog Invitational with a 4:30 match with local foe, Alabama A&M.
