CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Kaelyn Dyson had double-digit kills, yet the Runnin' Bulldogs dropped a 3-0 decision at Charleston Southern on Friday evening.
Charleston Southern (6-11, 1-2 Big South) took the match by scores of 25-21, 26-24, and 25-19, attacking at a .202 clip with 39 kills, holding Gardner-Webb (7-9, 1-3 Big South) to a .176 hitting percentage and 39 kills.
Dyson had 10 kills to lead the Runnin' Bulldog attack.
Keira Moore led the team with four blocks, while
Amanda Sahm had 27 assists and
Emma Milstead had 21 digs to lead the squad.
Charleston Southern was led on the attack by Brooke Monssen with 11 kills. Kylie Klein led the Bucs with 5 blocks, while Rachel Smith had 32 assists and Madison Martin had 10 digs to lead the team.
The Buccaneers jumped out to an early 9-4 advantage to start the first set and would lead throughout. Gardner-Webb would pull within two points at 12-10 after a kill by
Nicole Celarek, but the Runnin' Bulldogs would not close the gap any further as CSU would go on to take the set by a 25-21 score.
The Runnin' Bulldogs would open the second set with an 8-3 run, capped by a kill by
Hannah Driscoll, but Charleston Southern would respond with its own 8-3 run to tie the set at 11-11. GWU would take the next two points and would maintain a lead until CSU would score four straight points to claim a 21-19 advantage. GWU would answer with a 4-1 run to take a 23-22 lead after a kill by Dyson, but the Bucs would take three of the next four points to take the set, 26-24.
Charleston Southern started the third set with a 10-7 lead, but the Runnin' Bulldogs would respond with an 8-2 run to claim a 15-12 advantage after a kill by Moore. CSU would then go on a 13-4 run to close the set, taking a 25-19 win and the overall match victory.
Gardner-Webb returns to action tomorrow evening, taking on Winthrop in Rock Hill, S.C. at 6:00 pm.