Oct. 18, 2002

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - - For the Samford Bulldogs, Friday night's match against Stetson followed a familiar script. Samford middle blocker Hilary Gary recorded a career-high-26 kills but the Bulldogs upset bid fell short in five games.

On Tuesday night, Georgia State brought a 7-1 record into Seibert Hall and escaped with a five-game victory after Gary recorded 24 kills to lead the Bulldogs back from a 2-0 deficit. On Friday, once again the Bulldogs dropped game one, but Gary lead the comeback with 26 kills and 11 digs for her third double-double of the season, but the Bulldogs dropped to 9-11 overall and 1-5 in the Atlantic Sun.

Stetson improved to 10-11 and 6-1 in conference. The Hatters were led by the hitting duo of Kira Smedley who had 19 kills and 13 digs and DeeAnn Dempsey who had 18 kills.

Stetson used a .389 attack percentage in game one to take the opener 30-21. Samford returned the favor by hitting .387 to take game two 30-24. Game three was a seesaw affair that saw both teams match seven point runs. The Hatters went from trailing 6-7 to leading 13-7 only to see Samford tied it at 18. Then Stetson went on a 5-0 run to lead 23-18 only to see Samford answer with five straight to tie it at 23. The Hatters again went on a 6-2 run to gain game point at 29-25, but Samford won the next two before Stetson won 30-27.

In game four, Alyssa Whitehead recorded eight of her 17 kills to lead the Bulldogs to a 30-25 victory. Whitehead added 15 digs for her team-high ninth double-double of the season.

The finale was nip and tuck the entire game. The teams switched sides with Stetson leading 8-7. Samford tied the game at eight before the Hatters ran off three-straight to lead 11-8. The teams sided out from there and Michelle Clonan ended the match with one of her seven kills to give Stetson the 15-12 victory.

Stefanie Pickett had a solid match for Samford matching her season-high of 14 kills and setting a season-high with 14 digs. It was her second double-double of the season.

Both teams will return to action on Saturday. Samford will host Jacksonville University in a 4 p.m. match at Seibert Hall while Stetson will travel to Jacksonville State for a 7 p.m. match.