BOONE, N.C.- Appalachian State University volleyball snapped a two-match skid Saturday evening, as the Mountaineers hammered The Citadel 3-0, earning their first Southern Conference win of the season. ASU now improves to 10-4 overall and 1-0 in league play, while the Bulldogs fall to 5-11 and drop their second-straight conference match, falling to 0-2 in SoCon action.
The Black and Gold jumped out to a commanding 8-2 first set lead and never relinquished its advantage, en route to an impressive 25-13 first-set victory.
Back-to-back Kelly Rhein kills earned ASU the early six-point cushion.
The offensive production coupled with stout blocking, with Alison Blasingame and Maggie Seeds combining for two block assists made Appalachian's lead even more deadly up 12-4.
Lauren Swecker found her groove on the offensive front, as she registered two kills and made the score 14-4 in ASU's favor.
The Citadel made it as close as 10 points, but the Apps picked up their pace and continued to dominate, with a Swecker kill and final Caroline Sedon ace giving the squad the 12-point first set win.
The Mountaineers carried their momentum into second set play, as Rhein tallied another kill to give ASU a 7-2 lead.
Rachael Farrell and Alexa Dahlstrom recorded a block assist and Farrell had a kill, as The Citadel tried to creep back into the set, pulling within five points, down just 16-11.
Despite strong blocking by Appalachian, The Citadel was able to capitalize off of ASU errors and cut its deficit to just four points at the 20-16 mark.
Fortunately for Appalachian, Sedon stepped up and notched a kill along with a block assist with Seeds enabling ASU to stay on top.
That along with a final Meghann Forshey kill gave Appalachian the 25-20 second set win.
Forshey ended the evening with a match-high 10 kills to go along with two digs and two block assists.
After action was tied early at two all in the third set, the Apps once again grabbed the advantage and never looked back.
Two consecutive Citadel errors pushed Appalachian in front 16-8, and the Bulldogs were unable to make a comeback from the eight-point deficit.
Rhein, Seeds, Blasingame and Forshey all contributed both offensively and defensively, and ASU took the 25-16 third set and decisive 3-0 match victory.
Appalachian now turns it sights to its next match, Wednesday, September 29, as ASU heads to Cullowhee, N.C. to battle Western Carolina. The showdown between the SoCon North Division rivals is set to begin at 7 p.m. in WCU's Ramsey Athletic Center.
