Charleston, S.C. – Sharlissa de Jesus and Ali Ruffin both recorded double-doubles to lead The Citadel Bulldogs to a 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-19) victory over the Furman Paladins in SoCon volleyball action Wednesday evening from McAlister Field House.

Furman drops to 6-8 overall and 1-3 in the SoCon, while The Citadel improves to 7-5 on the season and 3-3 in conference play.

Bella Tolone and Maya Mrus registered nine and seven kills, respectively, while both had 11 digs. Sarah Turner collected her fifth double-double of the season after finishing with 18 assists and 10 digs. Andrea Aceveda led all players with 17 digs.

de Jesus compiled 11 kills and 13 digs while Ruffin added 10 kills and 12 digs to lead the Bulldogs. Belle Hogan dished out 32 assists and Kenzie Kellerman tallied 13 digs.

The opening set featured a total of 12 ties with six coming in the first 20 points. The Citadel scored six of the first nine points before the Paladins came back with a 7-4 run to even the score at 10-10 when Chandler Parker connected on a kill. Tolone gave Furman a 13-11 lead midway following her kill. Sydney Tanner maintained the Paladins' two-point lead when her kill made the score 17-15. The Bulldogs closed out the set on a 10-2 run and won 25-19 on a Furman service error.

Natalie Dunn gave Furman an early 4-3 lead in the second set with her kill. After The Citadel went in front 6-5, the Paladins took a one-point lead twice with the last coming at 8-7 on Tolone's kill. The Bulldogs would retake the lead at 11-8 on a solo block from Maddy Cardenas. Furman responded the following point with a combination block from Tolone and Kelsey Watkins, putting the score at 11-9. The Citadel broke the set open with an 8-4 run to hold a 19-12 lead, forcing the Paladins into a timeout. The Bulldogs outscored Furman 6-4 after the timeout for the 25-16 victory.

The Citadel began the third set scoring four of the first five points to go ahead 4-1. Furman scored the next three points including two off kills by Ava Augustson. The Paladins tied the score at 4-4 on Aceveda's service ace. The Bulldogs would then go on a 16-8 run and took a 20-12 lead after a Furman attack error. The Paladins made a late rally and got as close as four, 22-18, following a 6-2 run after a timeout. Mrus cut Furman's deficit down to four with her kill. The Citadel concluded the set recording three of the last four points to win 25-19 and capture the match 3-0.

The Paladins finished the contest with seven total blocks led by Watkins' four assisted. Mrus and Tanner both had two blocks on one solo and one assisted. Tolone and Dunn also recorded two assisted blocks.

Furman is back at Alley Gymnasium this weekend, October 8-9, to host Western Carolina and UNC Greensboro in a pair of SoCon matches.