Sept. 4, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford University volleyball team (2-1, 0-0 SoCon) will play in the Kangaroo Klassic hosted by the University of Missouri - Kansas City this weekend, Sept. 5-6. The Bulldogs head into the tournament with a 2-1 record, just off a great season-opening performance at the Auburn War Eagle Invitational last weekend.
The Bulldogs opened the season last weekend with a sweeping victory over the Auburn Tigers, the first of two SEC teams Samford will face this season. This was the first time Samford has defeated the Tigers in the history of the series, and two new Bulldogs, senior Ashley Adams and red-shirt freshman Rachel Gadberry, got their first taste of action in the Friday night match. Samford rounded out the weekend on Saturday with a 3-1 loss against a talented and tough UNO squad before defeating Mercer, 3-1, to end the tournament.
Leading the Bulldogs in her first weekend on the Samford roster was reigning Southern Conference Player of the Week Adams, hitting .317 and knocking down 41 kills (3.73 kpg) while digging 26 balls (2.36 dpg). Junior middle blocker Sheriden Stangohr followed close behind with 26 kills (2.36 kpg) and seven blocks (0.64 bpg) and senior outside hitter Sara Sears with 23 kills (2.09 kpg) and 13 digs (1.18 dpg).
On the defensive effort, Gadberry posted 15 of Samford's 25 total blocks. She knocked down five alone and assisted 10, hitting weekend and career highs against Mercer with four blocks solo and five block assists. Senior Libero Courtney Gay led her team in digs with 32 (2.91 dpg) while sophomore setter Hillary Fountain dished out 113 assists (10.27 apg) and had four service aces along with junior defensive specialist Sarah Gardner.
This weekend Samford meets two new opponents along with two old ones. The Bulldogs have never played UMKC or Morgan State but have seen Arkansas State four times and Florida Atlantic seven times before. Both teams lead the series -- Arkansas State, 0-4, Florida Atlantic, 2-5.
The Bulldogs start out with a 3 p.m. match against the Red Wolves of Arkansas State. ASU has a perfect 4-0 record coming into this match and have yet to lose a set in all four matches. They are lead by outside hitter Konae Purcell who posted a double-double (12 kills, 12 digs) against Tennessee- Martin in the Red Wolves latest win on Tuesday night.
Samford will then play host team UMKC at 7 p.m. The Kangaroos go into this tournament with a 1-3 record. UMKC lost its first two matches to Belmont and TCU, 3-0, in the TCU Molten/Nike Invitational before picking up win number one in the final match of that tournament over Louisiana Tech, 3-0. The Kangaroos' latest loss came Tuesday night to No. 22-ranked Wichita State. UMKC is led by Mandy Tipton who averages 2.58 kills per game (32 total) and .253 hitting percentage. Jamie Hagerman follows behind with 1.92 kills per game (23 total) and 1.00 block per game (12 total).
On Saturday, Morgan State is Samford's first opponent. Match play between the two teams kicks off at 9 a.m. The Bears have a 0-4 record coming into the match, but are not to be counted out. The squad was picked second in the MEAC Preseason Poll, and leading the Bears is freshman setter Christa Rogers, who earned all-tournament honors this past weekend at the Quinnipiac Invitational. Rogers total 67 assists, 12 kills and finished second on the team with 21 digs.
Samford's final opponent in the Kangaroo Klassic will be Florida Atlantic at 3 p.m. on Saturday. The Owls won two of three matches at the FAU Invitational last weekend, defeating Bethune-Cookman and North Florida before falling to Northern Iowa. Leading the Owls, is senior setter Casey LaRocca, who is FAU's all-time leading assists leader.
All matches will be available via live stats through links on the volleyball schedule page on www.umkckangaroos.com. Also Samford's match with UMKC at 7 p.m. on Friday can bee seed on ROO Vision through live video streaming on a subscription base. A full recap and results for each match will be available on www.samfordsports.com at the end of each match.
