CLEMSON, S.C. – Gardner-Webb returned to action on Friday for its second tournament in as many weeks, dropping its opening match of the Clemson Invitational by a 3-1 final score to The Citadel from Jervey Gymnasium.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs (1-3) won the third frame by a 25-22 tally to force a fourth set, but it proved to not be enough to take down The Citadel (1-4), who came out victorious in sets one (25-19), two (27-25), and four (25-18).
 
"There were a lot of growing moments for us in this match," said head coach Eric Plunkett. "When we have our team clicking, we are hard to beat. Our consistency just isn't there yet. These matches are frustrating to lose, for sure, but it gets me excited for the direction we are going."
 
Gardner-Webb was led by a strong double-double performance from graduate student Kylee Garrison, her second of the season. The outside hitter finished with a pair of season-highs with 18 kills on a .419 kill percentage with 15 digs, while junior Tori Weatherley dished out a team-high 21 assists and senior Sophia Bolden registered a team-leading 21 digs.
 
After dropping the opening frame of the afternoon, the Runnin' Bulldogs (1-3) took charge of the majority of the second frame. Trailing by a pair early on, 9-7, GWU surged to a 12-10 advantage behind a 5-1 run that was soon followed by another 6-0 run featuring two kills and a solo block from Garrison.
 
Leading 19-13 in set two, Gardner-Webb maintained a late five-point edge, 23-18, but the Bulldogs battled all the way back to fend off a set point and ultimately take a 27-25 victory in set two to take a 2-0 lead heading into a set three.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs made a charge in game three, however, erasing an early three-point deficit and finishing strong with a 5-2 run to seal a 25-22 victory following a 20-20 tie with the frame wearing on.
 
The Citadel answered in the fourth frame to deny an opportunity for GWU at a decisive fifth set once overcoming a 6-4 deficit en route to a 25-18 final score to round out the match.
 
Sophomore Avery Cole, playing in her first contest for GWU, added 12 kills and three solo blocks, tied for a team-high with graduate student Mikayla Logan, who also posted six kills. Senior Delaney McCullough and freshman McKenna Timmerman each tacked on two blocks apiece, with McCullough adding three kills and Timmerman another four.
 
Freshman Paige Bernstein also dished out a season-high 14 assists for the Dawgs, while fellow classmate Sophia Kotsovolos matched Garrison with a team-high two service aces.
 
With one match in the books, Gardner-Webb will return to play on Saturday with two matches to complete the Clemson Invitational. The Runnin' Bulldogs will get underway in the morning with a meeting with Jacksonville State at 11:30 a.m. before returning for the 7:00 p.m. nightcap against host Clemson from Jervey Gym.