CHARLESTON S.C.: CSU's determination proved to be too much as they defeated The Citadel (25-18,25-23,22-25,25-10) in Charleston S.C. Sep 13.

CSU (2-9) was led by Amy Nokes who recorded yet another double-double with 12 assists and a team high 12 kills (.611) to go along with seven digs. Kirsten Struksnes led the Lady Bucs with 18 assists and Ashley Higginbothem continued her solid play on the defensive side with 19 digs. CSU was fierce on defense, totaling 33 block assists including eight by Sydney Tracy and six by both Kayla Klinger and Wynter Davis. As a team, CSU totaled 17.5 blocks, 44 kills, 46 digs, and 36 assists in their most dominate performance of the season.

The Citadel (4-2) had stand out defensive play by Alexa Dahlstrom who recorded a team-best 40 assists and 11 digs. Cassie Uribe led the way for the Bulldogs with 19 kills while hitting for .343. The Citadel had 49 kills, 44 assists, 53 digs, and 5.5 blocks.

The first set started with an embrace by The Citadel (and former CSU) head coach Amir Khaledi and CSU head coach (and former player under Khaledi), Danyel Bellush. The mood quickly changed however once the ball was put into play. A kill by Ashley Johnston followed by an Ashley Higginbothem service ace tied the game early at 2-2. After the Bulldogs would take a slight lead, CSU would go on a mini run helped by back to back Kayla Klinger kills to take the 7-4 advantage. Three Citadel errors would bring the set to 11-5 before head coach Amir Khaledi was forced to take a timeout. CSU would continue to capitalize on Bulldog errors to take the six point lead 16-10. Kills by Wynter Davis and Sydney Tracy would keep the cushion at six for the remainder of the match; CSU would eventually take the set 25-18. CSU had 15 kills in comparison to The Citadel's 13 and the Bucs hit .500 compared to .212 for the Bulldogs.

The second set was a battle throughout. Each team would exchange points until The Citadel would take a slime lead 5-2. CSU would answer scoring five in a row including a Kirsten Struksnes service ace and a Sydney Tracy kill to take the 7-5 lead. A kill by Kayla Klinger along with consecutive Bulldog errors would put CSU up 13-7. The Citadel would hang around eventually tying the set at 17 and 18. An error would put CSU up 19-18 and the Lady Bucs would not look back closing out The Citadel 25-23. The Citadel had 14 kills (.132) while CSU totaled 11 (.143).

The intensity continued into the third set with an Erin Lavenice kill and a few Bulldog errors putting CSU up 3-1 early. The Bulldogs would quickly respond, tying the match at 5 a piece. Amy Nokes would send in a kill to put the Lady Bucs up one, 6-5. Both teams would trade kills eventually ending with CSU holding on to a slim 10-9 lead. The Lady Bucs could not put the Citadel away as the Bulldogs fought back to take the 16-14 lead. Although CSU would try and come back, The Citadel kept the Bucs at a safe distance eventually winning the set 25-22. The Citadel hit for .282 with 17 kills while the Lady Bucs went for .143 and 11.

CSU dominated the fourth and final set, jumping out to a 9-0 lead. The Citadel could not recover from the onslaught and committed numerous errors which dug them in even deeper. Back to back Amy Nokes kills extended the lead to 17-5. Ashley Johnston would put in a kill to bring the deficit to 20-8. Errors and another Ashley Johnston kill would finish off The Citadel and cap the most dominant CSU performance of the season. CSU held The Citadel to -.281 hitting percentage with only five kills.

CSU will take their two-game winning streak to Spartanburg S.C. to compete in the USC Upstate Invitational Sep. 16-17.