Oct. 23, 2001

Box Score

ATLANTA, Ga. - Samford University had three players record double-doubles and recorded 15 team blocks as the Bulldogs out lasted Georgia State in an entertaining five game Atlantic Sun match Tuesday night.

Samford won its third-straight match by winning the odd number games led by Whitney Miller with 19 kills and 11 digs. Shellie Ouldhouse had 15 kills, 11 digs and seven blocks and Abby Miner had 13 kills and 14 digs to pace the Bulldogs. Samford improved to 10-12 on the year and 6-3 in the Atlantic Sun.

Georgia State (18-6, 6-1 A-Sun) also had three players record double-doubles. Anna Popenko had 22 kills and 11 digs, Molly Sapp had 18 kills and 13 digs, and Jennifer Rizzo had 10 kills and 11 digs. However, 15 service errors proved to be too much for the Lady Panthers to over come.

Samford began the match looking like a team with something to prove. The Bulldogs who beat the Lady Panthers for the first time since 1997, jumped out to a 12-6 lead in game one and stretched the lead to 20-13. Miller had five kills in the opener but it was the Bulldogs blocking that set the tone of the evening. Samford had three blocks in the opening game and had game point at 29-21. Georgia State picked up momentum for game two by scoring four of the final five points but fell 30-25.

The second game was tight throughout. Samford had three game points but each time Georgia State was able to tie on the next rally. Finally with the game tied at 31, the Lady Panthers put back-to-back points together to even the match at a game apiece.

Samford opened up a 20-14 lead in game three but once again GSU battled back. The Lady Panthers got as close as 21-20 but the Bulldogs responded with three straight points to push the lead to 24-20. With the score 29-28, Miller put away the final point to give Samford a 2-1 lead.

It looked the Bulldogs would end the match in four games. Samford seemed in control of game four leading the whole way and building a 20-15 lead. Once again Georgia State battled back. With Samford leading 26-25, Kumi Ishiyama served four-straight points to give GSU game point. The Bulldogs fought off four game points to tie the game at 29 and had match point at 32-31 but a kill by Popenko kept the Lady Panthers alive. Georgia State would take the final two points to force game five with a 34-32 win.

The Bulldogs were determined not to let the match slip away in the fifth game and Georgia State's soft schedule would prove costly. Samford jumped out to a 4-1 lead aided by a huge block by Angela Smith and Stefanie Pickett who each had eight blocks on the night. . The Bulldogs pushed the lead to 9-3 and forced Georgia State to call its final timeout but there would be no comeback this time. Ouldhouse recorded three kills in the last five rallies to secure the 15-9 win and the match for the Bulldogs.

Samford is 9-5 since beginning the season 1-7. The Bulldogs will step out of conference for its next two games to celebrate homecoming. Samford will face UNC Asheville on Friday at 7 p.m. and Winthrop Saturday morning at 11 a.m. at Seibert Hall.