JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Volleyball was unable to get into the wins column Friday, as the Wildcats dropped a close five-set thriller to Columbia and a 3-0 setback to The Citadel on the opening day of the JU Invitational presented by Hampton Inn East Regency inside Swisher Gymnasium.
 
COLUMBIA 3, B-CU 2
Bethune-Cookman jumped out to a 2-0 lead Friday morning in the opening match of the JU Invitational presented by Hampton Inn East Regency inside Swisher Gymnasium, but the Wildcats were unable to hold off Columbia as the Lions earned a 3-2 come-from-behind win in a five-set thriller on the campus of Jacksonville University.
 
Columbia took the win on scores of 19-25, 19-25, 25-20, 25-20, 15-11.
 
For Bethune-Cookman (3-7), it was the third time this season the Wildcats have lost a five-set match. Prior to this season, B-CU had won its last two (2) five-set matches against Southern (La.) and Mississippi Valley State, respectfully, last season.
 
THE CITADEL 3, B-CU 0
Sophie Childs and Aaliyah Byers each tallied double figures in kills Friday evening to lead The Citadel to a 3-0 win over Bethune-Cookman inside Swisher Gymnasium on the campus of Jacksonville University as part of the JU Invitational presented by Hampton Inn East Regency. The Citadel won the match on set scores of 25-22, 25-18, 25-12.
 
Bethune-Cookman (3-8) received four kills in the opening set from senior outside hitter Jasmine Robinson as the Wildcats hit .103 in the opening set. The Citadel (5-5) answered with four kills each from Mackenzie Martin, Sophie Childs and Aaliyah Byers, respectively.
 
B-CU pulled to within 19-16 following a kill from Elizabeth Phillips off the set of senior Alisha Callender. But the Bulldogs would respond with a kill and a service ace from Martin to extend the lead. Two additional B-CU attack errors aided the Bulldogs en route to a 25-22 win.
 
The Citadel used a strong .317 hitting performance in the second set as Childs poured in five kills and a block for the Bulldogs. Mecca Freeman kept Bethune-Cookman close with four kills, while Tiyanna Preston combined with Robinson to post three kills apiece. Robinson would add a service ace alongside Freeman in the set.
 
In the third, it was all The Citadel with the Bulldogs hitting at a match-high .481 clip with 14 kills on 27 swings as a team. The Bulldogs also tallied four service aces in the set for the 25-12 win to close the match.
 
The Citadel was led on the night by Childs (12 kills) and Byers (11 kills). Greta Pleuss had 23 assists. And Martin added 12 digs and six kills.
 
For B-CU, the Cats used a team-high eight kills from Robinson, with the Fleming Island, Florida, native also collecting six digs and an assisted block.
 
The Cats conclude the JU Invitational presented by Hampton Inn East Regency on Saturday when facing the host JU Dolphins at 2:30 p.m. The match will take place inside Swisher Gymnasium.
 
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