CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston Southern began their Big South schedule on Friday night welcoming the Presbyterian Blue Hose to the Buc Dome falling 3-1 The match was also designated as the team's annual Military and First Responders Appreciation night with celebrations throughout the night to recognize those who serve or who have served.
In the first, Charleston Southern stormed back in the first set to get the opening-frame victory. The Bucs trailed by as many as nine when the score stood at 17-8. CSU responded to the deficit with a 3-0 run and then a 5-0 that brought them to within 18-16. The Buccaneers eventually were able to draw even for the first time in it at 21 apiece. The Blue Hose pushed it to set point at 24-22, but the Bucs battled to win the next four and take the early 1-0 lead.
During the second, the Blue Hose took an early lead at 4-0 and were able to stretch their lead out the rest of the way to get the victory at 25-19 and tie it at one set each.
Presbyterian got out to another fast start in the third going up 7-1 early. The Bucs continued to fight as they used a late four-point run to bring them within two points at 20-18. CSU pulled even at 22 apiece with the teams then trading two score flurries, but the visitors eventually won it at 27-25.
In the fourth and final set, the teams went back-and-forth with the score as they traded the lead four times and tied it up nine different occasions. PC built another early 4-0 in the set, but the Bucs answered quickly as they brought it even at 10s and then took a 12-10 lead at the end of the four unanswered. Both teams had two stretches of 3-0 runs that brought them near the end of the fourth at 20-19. They exchanged points, but the Blue Hose put together the final four of the night to claim it at 25-22.
Charleston Southern was led offensively by Giada-Pais Marden as she collected 15 kills on the night with
Indigo Young joining her in double digits with 12. Young collected her 650
th career kill on the night and was able to break into the school's Top 25 in the category, passing Allyn Beam (2002-2003) who had 649.
Emmy Rollins had a nice outing as well as she finished with nine and
Brenna Rowland collected five with no errors.
Ilaria Durante led the team in assists as she collected 22 and
Kahea Carvalho was next with 15 for her seventh consecutive match with more than 10.
Angelika Rusin led the team in digs as she finished with 20 and Durante joined her in double digits with 19. Rowland led the team in blocks with five block assists, having a hand in each of the CSU rejections. There were 14 different Buccaneers that saw time on the court tonight with 12 appearing in two or more sets.
The Buccaneers will be back in action to continue their trek through the league schedule next Friday as they hit the road. They kick off the weekend on September 29 at USC Upstate at 6:00 p.m. and follow it with a matchup at UNC Asheville at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 30.
