Box Score November 14, 2009

Wofford vs. Citadel Box Score

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Terrier volleyball team ended the season on a high note with a 3-1 win over The Citadel in Southern Conference action Saturday night. Before the match, Wofford honored seniors Joanna Suddath, Sarah Palmer and Shanna Hughes for their contributions to the Terrier volleyball program.

The Terriers held the momentum in the first set, opening with an 11-3 run. Despite a four point run by The Citadel to bring the score to 13-8, the Bulldogs were never able to control the Terriers, allowing Wofford to win set one by a score of 25-14. Wofford held The Citadel to a .071 attack percentage in the first set, recording a .389 mark comparatively.

The second set was a much closer affair as the two teams battled through four ties in the opening 20 points to arrive at a 10-10 deadlock. A kill from The Citadel’s Kaona Mercer gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the match at 11-10, but a miscue tied the score again at 11-11.

The Bulldogs took another lead at 12-11 off a kill from Jessica Maxwell, and were able to extend their lead to 15-13 before the Terriers responded to tie the score at 16 and take the lead on a Citadel error. Wofford would not trail again as the Terriers went on to win the second set 25-20.

The Terriers opened the third set with two straight points, but could not keep control of the lead, allowing The Citadel to take a 9-6 lead, which the Bulldogs stretched to a 16-10 lead, their largest of the match, with strong defensive play. Wofford brought the score within two at 14-16 and again at 15-17, but was not able to overcome the deficit, and the Bulldogs claimed the third set by a score of 25-20.

The Citadel carried the momentum into the fourth set, jumping out to a 12-6 lead, off three straight kills, two from Alyssa Holum. Wofford again brought the score within two at 14-16 before the Bulldogs earned another side out, and a Citadel attack error put the Terriers within one and forced a Citadel time out.

After the break, Wofford rallied to take the 17-16 lead, but could not stop the Bulldog offense led by Kaona Mercer’s kill to tie the score at 17. A strong offensive push from The Citadel gave the Bulldogs a 23-19 error, and the match looked to be headed into a fifth set, but two straight kills from junior Stacy Byrd gave the Terriers the spark they needed. After fighting off two set points, another two kills from Byrd helped the Terriers tie the score at 24 and take match point at 25-24 before a Bulldog miscue gave the Terriers the 26-24 win.

Junior Tatum Jestila led the Bulldogs with 14 kills and recorded a double-double, adding 15 digs to the effort. Junior Blaine McAllister and freshman Kaona Mercer each added 12 kills in the loss, with McAllister notching 13 digs as well. Libero Kathryn Johnston led the team with 27 digs.

The Terriers were led by junior Stacy Byrd’s 19 kills. The right side hitter managed a double-double with 12 digs in the win. Junior Catelyn Amende added 11 kills and a team-high .391 attack percentage while also pacing the team with five total blocks. Senior Shanna Hughes recorded her ninth double-double of the year with 10 kills and 21 digs. Senior Joanna Suddath fell only one kill and one dig shy of a triple double, recording 38 assists along with nine kills and nine digs while senior libero Sarah Palmer paced the defense with 28 defensive saves.

With the win, the Terriers finish the season with an 18-14 overall record and a 5-11 Southern Conference mark while The Citadel falls to 8-25 overall and 2-12 in league play. The 18 wins mark the most wins in a season in the Division I era for the Terriers.