2021 The Citadel Bulldogs women's volleyball team

The Citadel Bulldogs women's volleyball team represented The Citadel in the 2021 NCAA Division I women's volleyball season. The Bulldogs played as members of the Southern Conference and were led by fourth year head coach Dave Zelenock. They played their home games at McAlister Field House.

2021 The Citadel Bulldogs women's volleyball
SoCon Tournament champion
ConferenceSouthern Conference
Record14–12 (7–9 SoCon)
Head coach
Home arenaMcAlister Field House
Seasons
← 2020
2022 →
2021 Southern Conference volleyball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
UNC Greensboro  ‍‍‍ 12 4   .750 23 7   .767
Mercer  ‍‍‍ 12 4   .750 16 12   .571
Wofford  ‍‍‍ 9 7   .563 17 14   .548
Samford  ‍‍‍ 9 7   .563 11 18   .379
The Citadel  ‍‍y 7 9   .438 14 12   .538
East Tennessee State  ‍‍‍ 7 9   .438 11 17   .393
Western Carolina  ‍‍‍ 7 9   .438 11 17   .393
Chattanooga  ‍‍‍ 7 9   .438 11 19   .367
Furman  ‍‍‍ 2 14   .125 9 20   .310
† – Conference champion
‡ – Tournament champion
y – Invited to the NCAA Tournament
As of December 4, 2021[1]
Rankings from AVCA

The Bulldogs finished in fifth place in the SoCon, and then swept the conference tournament to claim the SoCon championship for the first time in program history. This also marked the first women's team conference championship for The Citadel, and their first winning season in program history. The Bulldogs advanced to their first NCAA Tournament, where they were defeated in straight sets by eighth-seeded Georgia Tech.[2][3][4][5]

Previous season

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The Bulldogs finished 9–12 overall and 7–9 in the SoCon in the 2020–21 season, which was altered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This marked the highest winning percentage in program history, and the best conference record.

Roster

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2021 The Citadel Bulldogs roster[6]
 

Defensive Specialist/Libero

  • 8 - Jaelynn Elgert - Sophomore
  • 17 - Faith Justice - Senior
  • 21 - Kenzie Kellerman - Junior
  • 22 - Brooke Shively - Sophomore

Opposite hitters

  • 4 - Makaya Middleton - Junior
 

Outside hitters

  • 11 - Sharlissa de Jesus - Graduate Student
  • 12 - Kathleen Bula - Sophomore
  • 18 - Ali Ruffin - Freshman
  • 20 - Laura Kuhlmann -   Sophomore
 

Setters

  • 1 - Belle Hogan - Freshman
  • 5 - Amie Greene - Junior

Middle blockers

  • 3 - Alicia Roberts - Senior
  • 6 - Maya Elassal - Senior
  • 10 - Gina Delancey - Junior
  • 15 - Sadie Gomez - Freshman
  • 25 - Maddy Cardenas - Junior

Schedule

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Legend
  The Citadel win
  The Citadel loss
  Tie
Date
Time
Opponent Arena
City
(Tournament)
Result Attendance Record
(SoCon Record)
Aug 27
10:30 AM
vs Tennessee Tech Auburn ArenaAuburn, AL
(War Eagle Invitational)
Cancelled
Aug 27
7:00 PM
at Auburn Auburn Arena • Auburn, AL
(War Eagle Invitational)
Cancelled
Aug 28
1:00 PM
vs Jackson State Auburn Arena • Auburn, AL
(War Eagle Invitational)
Cancelled
Sept 3
5:00 PM
vs Jacksonville State Buccaneer Field HouseNorth Charleston, SC
(VolleyBuc Invitational)
Cancelled
Sept 4
11:00 AM
vs Wyoming Buccaneer Field House • North Charleston, SC
(VolleyBuc Invitational)
Cancelled
Sept 7
6:00 PM
Idaho State McAlister Field HouseCharleston, SC W 3–2 101 1–0
Sept 10
6:00 PM
vs Northern Illinois Buccaneer Field House • North Charleston, SC
(Buccaneer Invitational)
L 1–3 44 1–1
Sept 11
12:00 PM
vs Bethune–Cookman Buccaneer Field House • North Charleston, SC
(Buccaneer Invitational)
W 3–0 44 2–1
Sept 11
6:00 PM
at Charleston Southern Buccaneer Field House • North Charleston, SC
(Buccaneer Invitational)
W 3–1 44 3–1
Sept 16
6:00 PM
South Carolina State McAlister Field House • Charleston, SC
The Citadel Tournament
W 3–0 217 4–1
Sept 17
6:00 PM
Presbyterian McAlister Field House • Charleston, SC
The Citadel Tournament
L 1–3 125 4–2
Sept 24
7:00 PM
at Mercer Hawkins ArenaMacon, GA L 0–3 20 4–3 (0–1)
Sept 25
8:00 PM
at Samford Pete Hanna CenterHomewood, AL L 1–3 382 4–4 (0–2)
Sept 29
6:00 PM
Wofford McAlister Field House • Charleston, SC W 3–1 101 5–4 (1–2)
Oct 2
7:00 PM
Chattanooga McAlister Field House • Charleston, SC W3–0 317 6–4 (2–2)
Oct 3
1:00 PM
East Tennessee State McAlister Field House • Charleston, SC L 1–3 147 6–5 (2–3)
Oct 6
6:00 PM
Furman McAlister Field House • Charleston, SC W 3–0 101 7–5 (3–3)
Oct 15
7:00 PM
at UNC Greensboro Fleming GymnasiumGreensboro, NC W 3–2 514 8–5 (4–3)
Oct 16
6:00 PM
at Western Carolina Ramsey CenterCullowhee, NC L 0–3 115 8–6 (4–4)
Oct 22
6:00 PM
Samford McAlister Field House • Charleston, SC W 3–1 69 9–6 (5–4)
Oct 23
7:00 PM
Mercer McAlister Field House • Charleston, SC L 0–3 101 9–7 (5–5)
Oct 27
6:00 PM
at Wofford Jerry Richardson Indoor StadiumSpartanburg, SC L 1–3 102 9–8 (5–6)
Oct 29
6:00 PM
at Chattanooga Maclellan GymnasiumChattanooga, TN L 1–3 397 9–9 (5–7)
Oct 30
3:00 PM
at East Tennessee State Brooks GymnasiumJohnston City, TN L 2–3 59 9–10 (5–8)
Nov 3
7:00 PM
at Furman Alley GymnasiumGreenville, SC W 3–0 218 10–10 (6–8)
Nov 12
6:00 PM
Western Carolina McAlister Field House • Charleston, SC W 3–1 209 11–10 (7–8)
Nov 13
7:00 PM
UNC Greensboro McAlister Field House • Charleston, SC L 1–3 137 11–11 (7–9)
Nov 19
6:00 PM
UNC Greensboro Pete Hanna Center • Homewood, AL
2021 Southern Conference women's volleyball tournament
W 3–2 12–11 (1–0)
Nov 20
8:30 PM
Samford Pete Hanna Center • Homewood, AL
2021 Southern Conference women's volleyball tournament
W 3–1 354 13–11 (2–0)
Nov 21
5:00 PM
Wofford Pete Hanna Center • Homewood, AL
2021 Southern Conference women's volleyball tournament
W 3–0 123 14–11 (3–0)
Dec 3
7:00 PM
at Georgia Tech O'Keefe GymnasiumAtlanta, GA
NCAA Louisville Regional
L 0–3 1,200 14–12

References

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  1. ^ "2021 Volleyball Standings". Southern Conference. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  2. ^ "The Citadel volleyball wins SoCon Tournament title". WCSC-TV. November 22, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  3. ^ Lee Feinswog (November 22, 2021). "SoCon stunner: The Citadel wins; NCAA bids also go to Fighting Camels, WKU, eight others". Volleyball Mag. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  4. ^ Michella Chester (November 17, 2021). "We're tracking all 32 automatic qualifiers for the DI women's volleyball tournament". NCAA. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  5. ^ Chuck Curti (November 30, 2021). "de Jesus, The Citadel epitomize the ultimate NCAA volleyball underdog story". Volleyball Mag. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  6. ^ "2021 Volleyball Roster". The Citadel Bulldogs. Retrieved November 26, 2021.