Oct. 14, 2011
Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford volleyball team used long runs to spur a 3-0 sweep over the College of Charleston Friday, marking their 13th sweep of the season, fourth in conference, extending their undefeated home win streak to eight matches.
"Neither team was really executing well," said Head Coach Derek Schroeder, "but we managed to make the plays we needed to. I was very happy with our focus on the scouting report and team defense today. Alexis Bauer was exceptional today with 15 digs."
The Samford (18-3, 5-2 SoCon) defense held the edge in digs over the College of Charleston (14-9, 5-2 SoCon), 48-42, with Bauer as the only Bulldog in double-digits. Elizabeth Neisler and Lauren Hutchinson tallied 14 kills apiece, with Hutchinson earning a .571 clip, her fourth conference match hitting over .500. The junior from Kennesaw, Ga., also earned five blocks, including three in the middle of the final set to help propel the Bulldogs to a victory.
Two key runs highlighted the first set, as Samford took control to win, 25-18. Tied at 6-6, Casey Garvey earned a kill off a Cougar blocking error, giving Chelsi Carter a chance to rattle off five consecutive serves, including two aces and three kills by Neisler to push the Bulldogs ahead, 11-6. Up 12-8, Neisler earned a kill to give Samford back possession and set up another successful long run. Bauer followed the Neisler kill with six consecutive serves to give Samford a ten-point lead, 18-8. The Cougars outscored the Bulldogs from that point on, but the deficit proved too large to overcome and a Cougar attack error ended the set to give Samford the seven-point victory.
The Cougar offense came out firing in set two, pulling ahead to an early 5-2 lead. The Bulldogs retaliated with four straight points to gain the lead, 6-5. Charleston regained the lead directly after and maintained a slim lead until jumping ahead 15-10 thanks to a five-point rally. An attack error gave Samford a point, possession and the momentum, giving Garvey a chance to serve up three more points, drawing within one, down 14-15, and forcing the Charleston timeout. The College of Charleston again maintained a small lead, going ahead by only as much as four points before Samford came back to tie it at 22-22. Bauer had served two in a row to tie the set up and she added two more to give Samford possession at set point, 24-22. Charleston earned a kill to draw within one, but Hutchinson made it final with a kill to give Samford the 25-23 comeback win.
The third set started neck-and-neck, with the score being tied seven times. Down 11-12, Neisler and Hutchinson paired up for a block to tie the match for an eighth time, 12-12, and the Bulldogs followed with back-to-back blocks to pull ahead 14-12 and force a Cougar timeout. Charleston scored one and Samford answered back with three in a row again to pull ahead 17-13 and force another visitor timeout. The Cougars outscored the Bulldogs 7-4 in the next stretch to draw within one, down 20-21 late. Refusing to give up the lead, Samford put up three in a row for a third time, setting them up for the win, leading 24-20. A Bulldog attack error gave back possession to the Cougars, but Michaela Reesor put a stamp on the match the next serve, slamming home the final kill to win the set 25-21.
The Samford Bulldogs conclude their five game homestand tomorrow with a 7 p.m. match against the Citadel (7-12, 0-6 SoCon).
