Oct. 7, 2000

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford juniors Whitney Miller and Shellie Ouldhouse combined for 40 kills to lead Samford back from a two-game deficit to defeat Jacksonville University Saturday afternoon in Trans America Athletic Conference volleyball action at Seibert Hall.

Miller recorded a career-high 24 kills and hit .333 (24 kills, 7 errors, 51 attacks) to pace the Bulldogs offense as Samford (9-11, 1-1 TAAC) defeated Jacksonville (9-5, 2-1 TAAC) for the first time since 1993 and snapped a five-match losing streak. Miller also added 19 digs.

Ouldhouse who saw her first action since Sept. 15, when she sprained her ankle, had 16 kills and 11 digs. Angela Smith recorded 15 kills and hit .400 (15 kills, 3 errors, 30 attacks) and Stefanie Pickett added 11 kills as Samford hit .272 (74 kills, 25 errors, 180 attacks) in the match.

"I am thrilled to death," said head coach Vickie Nichols "Shellie's leadership is huge for us. Just having her on the floor makes us a better team. She fought through a lot of pain to play and really did a great job."

"I am so happy to be back," said Ouldhouse. "Last night I could have played but to finally get back in and add to the team is a great feeling."

Jacksonville looked like it was going to run away with match by taking the first two games 15-6 and 15-8. JU setter Carrie Bosworth recorded her second triple-double of the season with 16 kills, 10 digs, and 49 assists. Carrie Arago added 15 kills and 15 digs in the match.

In game three, the match began to turn as Samford begin to serve tougher and force Jacksonville into mistakes. The Bulldogs finished with nine service aces and held Jacksonville to a .253 hitting percentage (71 kills, 26 errors, 178 attacks). It was the first time in seven matches that Samford has out-hit its opponent. The Bulldogs took games three and four 15-4 and 15-8.

The decisive game was another Bulldog comeback as JU jumped ahead 3-0 and led 8-5 when the two teams switched sides of the court. The Bulldogs tied the game at 10-10 and did not take the lead until a block by Pickett and Colleen Donivan made the score 13-12. Smith recorded a kill to give Samford match point at 14-12. Jacksonville sided out on a kill by Arago and then Pickett recorded a solo block to end the match with a 15-13 victory.

"This was a big win for us," said Miller "We finally found our Chemistry and snapped out. I was emotionally drained after last night's match, but once we got back into the match we really started playing well."

Samford will return to action on Thursday night when the Bulldogs travel to Atlanta, Ga., to face TAAC foe Georgia State at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs will be at home again next Saturday to face Campbell in a 5 p.m. match.