Sept. 30, 2003

MACON, Ga. - The Samford volleyball team will look for its second-straight road victory as it renews acquaintances with former Atlantic Sun rival Mercer this evening at Porter Gym. First serve is set for 6 p.m. CT

The Bulldogs (5-8) are coming off their first Ohio Valley Conference win, a 3-1 road victory over Tennessee State. The Bulldogs have not won back-to-back matches this season but have split their last eight. Alyssa Whitehead led the way against the Tigers with her seventh-straight double-double posting 15 kills and 11 digs. Stefanie Pickett had her best week of the season last week posting 15 kills against Jax State and 14 kills at Tennessee State. Krista Kettering leads the OVC in assists per game averaging 11.77 and Whitehead is currently fourth in the OVC in kills per game with 4.02.

Mercer has struggled to a 3-12 start and will be trying to snap a six-match losing streak. Katie Plummer, who just picked up her 1,000th career dig, leads Mercer defensively with 213 digs. She is third on the team in hitting with 139 kills and has eight double-doubles this season. Jackie Viren leads the Bears with 3.23 kills per game. Samford has more wins over Mercer than any other school it has played in volleyball. The Bulldogs are 26-4 all-time against its former Atlantic Sun rival. Samford has won the last seven meetings with Mercer's last victory in the series coming on Oct. 26, 1996.

Samford will return to Ohio Valley Conference play as it travels Murray State and Tennessee-Martin this weekend. The Bulldogs will face Murray State at 7 p.m. on Friday and UT-Martin at Noon on Saturday.