CLINTON, S.C. – Charleston Southern concluded their 2023 season on Friday night at Presbyterian, forcing the match into a decisive fifth set. The Buccaneers had Skylar Yates finish the night with a season-high in kills as she collected 20 and saw Giada Pais-Marden surpass 1000 career kills in her final collegiate match.
 
Presbyterian took the first set of the night by a 25-13 scoreline, but the Bucs were able to immediately respond by taking the second at 25-23. During that frame, the teams went point-for-point with it being tied at 11 apiece at the midway point. The Blue Hose then rallied to score five in a row, but the Bucs notched seven of the next eight to take the lead at 18-17. Emmy Rollins sealed the set with her sixth kill of the frame.
 
In the third, Charleston Southern came out firing on all cylinders getting ahead 11-5 in the frame. The hosts were able to rally back and take the lead at 15-14. The teams traded the lead down the stretch and the Bucs were able to tally three in a row and bring the score to 23 apiece before the hosts took the next two points to take the third at 25-23.
 
During the fourth, the Buccaneers were able to get ahead early in it again. They were up 10-5 in the set and saw Skylar Yates collect three kills in a row that was followed by back-to-back service aces from Giada Pais-Marden to help punctuate a quick 6-0 scoring run. The Blue Hose eventually was able to draw it even at 16 apiece, but Charleston Southern responded to close it out at 25-21 to force a fifth. Yates finished the set with seven kills.
 
In the fifth, CSU had a 2-0 advantage at the start, but Presbyterian built their advantage to four. PC was able to hold it up until the Bucs tallied four in a row to tie it at 12 each. The Blue Hose was able to push it to match point, but Charleston notched a pair to have the score at 15-14. Presbyterian scored three straight points to end the night and have it at 17-15. Yates notched six kills in the final frame.
 
Yates led the team in kills with her season-high of 20. Pais-Marden was next on the team with her 13 as Emmy Rollins added 12 on the night. Emily Struckmeyer finished the night with a career-high in the category as she had nine go with just one error to hit a team-high .471. Ilaria Durante finished with a career-best 52 assists over the five sets of action.
 
There were four Buccaneers who finished in double figures for digs on the night. Angelika Rusin had the most on the team, setting a season-best of 30. Durante and Julia Fledderjohn each notched 15 with the latter's marking a 2023 high for her. At the net, Sophia Kluska collected seven total blocks, a career-best, with Pais-Marden and Struckmeyer each finishing with five, also career-highs for both.
 
The first year of the Carry Brown era for CSU volleyball season ends for the Buccaneers with the team finishing at 9-19 overall with a 3-11 record in conference play. Tonight's five set loss marks the fifth time a Big South match has gone to five for the Bucs with them falling in each to the league's best.