Playing at home for the first time in 11 matches, the Seahawks improved to 7-8 on the season while the Bulldogs slipped to 2-12 overall.

Kline posted a match-high 15 spikes on the strength of a .333 hitting percentage while Keightley finished with 12 kills and a .500 attack clip to power the Seahawks attack. Senior setter Natalie Lahaie handed out 40 assists as the UNCW lineup combined for 46 kills and a .187 hitting percentage for the match. Junior Haley Collins notched a match-high 18 digs to lead three UNCW players in double figures. Kline chipped 14 digs to post her fourth double-double of the season. Freshman Lindsay Hartmann added 11 digs to reach double figures in that category for the fourth time this season. 

Senior Cassie Uribe tallied eight kills and senior Rachael Farrell pitched in six spikes and added a team-high 15 digs for The Citadel. Freshman setter Mikaela Tracy handed out 23 assists and added eight digs while senior Emily Dalton finished with 11 digs.

Trailing 13-12 midway through the first set, a kill by sophomore Leah Gagliardi sent the Seahawks on a 7-1 run that put them ahead, 19-13. The Bulldogs responded to the spurt, tallying four of the net five points to pull within three, 20-17, but UNCW answered back, notching three of the next four points to take a 24-18 lead. The Citadel would rattle off three straight points to make it a 24-21 contest before a Bulldog attack error gave the Seahawks a 25-21 victory.

The Citadel jumped out to an early 5-1 lead in the second set and held a 16-12 advantage later in the frame when UNCW tallied five of six points to square the match at 17-all. The two sides would then proceed to trade points until, with the score knotted at 21-all, back-to-back attack errors for the Bulldogs ignited a 4-0 spurt for UNCW that would give them a 25-21 triumph.

The third set saw the Seahawks take control early, racing out to a commanding 20-4 cushion. A kill by sophomore Lauren Hurt ended the UNCW run and sent the Bulldogs on a 13-4 run that would make it a 24-17 contest. That would be as close at The Citadel would get, however, as a kill by Keightley would send the Seahawks to a 25-17 victory and give them the match.  

Both teams open conference play Saturday. UNCW hosts William & Mary at a 2 p.m. CAA matinee while The Citadel faces UNC Greensboro on the road in a 7 p.m. Southern Conference contest.