Oct. 22, 2002

Box Score

MACON, Ga. -- Alyssa Whitehead became the first Samford player in three years to record 20 kills and 20 digs in one match as she led four Bulldogs in double-figures and Samford evened its overall record at 11-11 with a 3-2 victory over Mercer Tuesday night.

The Bulldogs moved to 3-5 in the Atlantic Sun and kept their post season tournament hopes alive while eliminating Mercer from the post season. The Bears dropped to 11-14 overall and 3-7 in the conference.

Whitehead took over the match for Samford in the final three games as she posted 15 of her 20 kills after game two. Samford as a team recorded a season-high 93 digs in the match. Brooke Berryman posted a career-high 17 kills and 10 digs, Hilary Gary had 16 kills and 11 digs, and Stefanie Pickett had 12 kills and a season-high 17 digs.

The Bulldogs dropped game one 30-22 by surrendering six service aces. Samford responded with 30-22 and 30-28 victories in games two and three. Samford used its middles in the first two games as Gary and Pickett combined for 17 kills in the first two games. In the final three games, Whitehead and Berryman combined for 24 kills in the final three games.

Mercer came back to win game four 30-22 but fell behind 5-1 in the finale. Samford extended its lead to 11-5 before the Bears made a last chance effort and got as close as 12-9. The Bulldogs then ran off the final three points on a Berryman kill and a pair of Mercer hitting errors.

Mercer was led in the match by Katie Plummer who had 24 kills and 23 digs. Jackie Viren also had 12 kills and 18 digs and Kelly Stinson added 12 kills for the Bears.

The last Bulldogs to have 20 kills and 20 digs in a match were Ashley Fulton and Shellie Ouldhouse who each did it against Campbell on Oct. 14, 2000. Samford will return home on Saturday, Oct. 26, to face Campbell in a 4 p.m. match