Aug. 30, 2003

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Playing without its top returning hitter from last season, the Samford volleyball team struggled hitting the ball as it dropped both matches on Saturday and fell to 0-3 on the young season.

Alyssa Whitehead who had 397 kills a year ago for the Bulldogs was with her family on Friday and Saturday and Bulldogs missed her greatly. Hilary Gary tried to pick up the offense as she recorded 35 kills in the three matches. She was Samford's leading hitter in two of the three matches while Angela Smith led the 'Dogs with 11 kills in the final match against Southeastern Louisiana. The Bulldogs hit .142 over the weekend while opponents hit .248.

Samford also missed Whitehead's passing ability as opponents recorded 26 aces in the three matches to only 10 for Samford.

The opening match against UNO opened with both teams battling evenly, as neither could establish more than a three-point lead early in the first set. With Samford holding a 22-21 advantage, UNO registered four straight points to take a 25-22 lead late in the game. Samford rallied to tie the set at 28-28, before a kill by junior Jennifer Cruz and a Samford attack error gave the Privateers the first set, 30-28.

Energized by the first set win, UNO raced to an early 12-3 lead in the second game and eventually posted a double-digit margin at 15-5. The Privateers registered their largest lead at 20-8 before the Bulldogs recorded a 14-6 run to trim UNO's lead to four points at 26-22. However, the Bulldogs could not overcome UNO's early advantage and impressive .364 game-two hitting percentage, as the Privateers rolled to the 30-24 victory and a 2-0 lead in the match.

The final set proved to be the match's closest, with 11 ties and 10 lead changes. With the game tied at 26-26, Cruz once again came up big for the Privateers, registering a service ace and a kill before a kill by senior Gail Kingseed and a block by Kingseed and freshman Hillary Carr the set for the 30-26 Privateer victory.

The evening match had the Bulldogs facing Southeastern Louisiana. The first game was as tight as the 37-35 score indicates with both teams having chances to take the opener. SELU took games two and three 30-24 and 30-21. Smith hit .292 with 11 kills and nine digs to pace the Bulldogs. Callaway Logan led the team defensively with 10 digs. SELU held a 9-6 blocking advantage in the match. Over the weekend the Bulldogs were out-blocked 32-12.

Whitehead will rejoin the team as it heads to Atlanta next weekend to face Georgia State, Air Force, VCU, and South Alabama in a tournament hosted by Georgia State.