CULLOWHEE, N.C.- Presbyterian College finished off The Citadel in three straight games, tying the ninth longest winning streak since the 1997 season, putting the current Blue Hose in a dead heat with the 2003 squad. The 30-21, 30-17, 30-18 sweep moves PC to 8-4 overall, along the way maintaining a 10-game winning streak that dates back to a match-up against UNC Wilmington.
Senior Lauren Mason again led the way with 15 kills, while a dominate front court of Amanda Kettles (11 kills) and seven kills each by Kelsey McKee and Justine Lanchester, providing a potent front line. Elizabeth Heineman's 16 digs led the way for the back row, while three service aces by Justine Lanchester led the service game.
Presbyterian finished off The Citadel (1-7) in game three, putting themselves in front early on, making for only two ties. After assuming a six-point advantage on two occasions, the latter coming with PC leading 12-6, the two would split the next 14 points of the game. Lauren Mason accounted for four kills during that span to maintain the Blue Hose lead. The key stretch of the final 10 PC points came with Heineman serving, where the freshman forced three attack errors en route to the 30-18 victory.
Justine Lanchester continued her mastery in the service game, opening the second game for PC with nine straight points. The Bulldogs crawled back into the game scoring seven of the next 12 points. The Citadel had no answer for the front of Lauren Mason, Amanda Kettles and Kelsey McKee who accounted for five kills during a stretch of the game which pushed the lead back to 24-12. The Blue Hose lead reached 14 after back-to-back kills by Heather Swain and Lanchester, as PC won by the 30-17 final.
Freshman Amanda Kettles, carried over her strong showing from Tuesday's game, opening the first game with three kills over the first ten PC points. Along with Mason's two kills and one by McKee, the Blue Hose assumed an early 10-5 lead. The Citadel managed to slice the Presbyterian led to as few as three points at 18-15, before kills by Rachel Lewis, McKee and Lanchester gave PC breathing room at 25-19. Three Bulldog attack errors in the final five points, forced by Mason, Lewis and freshman Elizabeth Heineman, helped the 30-21 victory.
1 2 3
Presbyterian 30 30 30
The Citadel 21 17 18
Presbyterian vs. The Citadel Post-game Notes
- Amanda Kettles recorded her second career double-digit kills game (11). Her first double-digit kills performance also came against The Citadel when she recorded 12.
- Lauren Mason's 15 kills is a team-high eleventh this season.
- The 17 and 18 points allowed in the second third game of the match mark the second and third fewest points allowed during the ten-game winning streak.
- Presbyterian has won six straight games against The Citadel dating back to the third game in the Jacksonville University tournament.
