ORANGEBURG, S.C. – The Wildcats will undergo one final test before SWAC play begins, traveling to play South Carolina State at Dukes Gymnasium. The two teams will face off twice this weekend, Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m.


 
Friday & Saturday, September 18-19
Opponent: South Carolina State (3-8)
Time: 6 p.m. | 1 p.m.
Location: Orangeburg, S.C. | Dukes Gymnasium
Live Stats: Click Here

 

The first set went back-and-forth, with neither team able to gain more than a two point advantage. A service ace by Alayah Rhodes put the Wildcats (2-6) in front 24-23. But Charleston Southern (6-4) took the final three points to win the set on the back of Jenna Kitchens's two kills.

The Buccaneers then jumped out to an early 6-1 lead in the second set and were able to maintain the lead throughout. CSU recorded 15 kills while holding B-CU to a 0.049 hit percentage.

The third set saw the Bucs go on a 6-0 scoring run to put them ahead 11-4. From there, they were able to thwart any opportunity for a Wilcats' comeback and complete the 3-0 sweep. They hit .538 for the set with just two errors.

The South Carolina State Bulldogs are 4-8 on the season. However, they have just one victory over a Division I opponent, with a win against Mississippi Valley State in the season opener. The Bulldogs were projected to finish last in the MEAC preseason poll.

SCSU currently sits seventh in the MEAC in points and hitting percentage and ranks fourth in kills. Freshman Kenna Harris leads the squad with 99 kills, good for fourth in the conference.

Defensively, the Bulldogs sit eighth in blocks, second in digs, and fifth in opponent hitting percentage. Junior Taelyn Graham is the team's leader in blocks with 27.0, including six solo, while Ki'ra Wright and Jordan Dalland pace the team with 127 and 123 digs, respectively.




The Wildcats and Bulldogs have a checkered history dating back to their days as MEAC rivals. B-CU holds a significant edge in the all-time series 38-16 and have won the previous fifteen straight meetings.

 
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