Oct. 21, 2011

Box Score

DAVIDSON, N.C. ---- The Samford volleyball team had won eight straight sets heading into today's match, and they tacked on three more to that streak with a 3-0 victory against Davidson Friday, extending their winning streak to six matches.

"We keep working towards the maturity and composure championship teams play with," said Head Coach Derek Schroeder, "and tonight was another step in the right direction. Our serve receive was very solid and Casey Garvey played a solid road match.

"We are all looking forward to a fun match in a hostile environment tomorrow."

The offensive front for Samford (20-3, 7-2 SoCon) had another solid performance, with four in double figures for kills, including Michaela Reesor with her second double-double of the season. The Bulldogs held the Davidson (12-10, 2-7 SoCon) offense to a .168 hitting percentage, while countering with a .336 clip led by Katie Murphy at .522 (13/1/23). Three earned double-digit digs, led by Alexis Bauer (14) with Reesor (13) and Chelsi Carter (11) not far behind.

Tied at 6-6 in set one, the Bulldogs began to pull away towards an eventual 25-20 victory. Samford went on a 13-8 run after the tie, with four kills by Murphy during that stretch to force a Wildcat timeout. Each team earned four points after the break, with Davidson taking another timeout down 18-23. Reesor knocked down two in a row to give the Bulldogs set point, but a service error gave Davidson possession and a point. Hutchinson erased any possible comeback with a kill immediately after to seal the 25-20 win.

Up 5-4 in set two, Murphy knocked down a kill to allow Carter to serve two in a row, including a service ace, giving Samford the early 8-4 lead. Davidson fought back, eventually tying the game at 10-10 and three more points afterwards before the Wildcats took a timeout down 15-17. The Bulldogs held a three-point lead at the next timeout, up 22-19, and outscored the Wildcats 3-2 in the closing stretch, including two kills by Hutchinson, to finish the set 25-21.

Samford started the third set firing on all cylinders, pulling ahead 5-0 with Bauer at the service line to force an early Davidson timeout. The following stretch saw Samford maintain their lead, though Davidson fought back and stayed in the game, taking another timeout down 12-16. The Bulldogs built as much as a six point lead, pulling ahead 23-17, with Murphy tallying three more kills. Samford looked to secure the sweep, up 24-20, but the Wildcats answered with three in a row in front of a loud home crowd to draw within one. Samford took a timeout and Hutchinson and Elizabeth Neisler paired up for a block on the final point of the match, wrapping things up at 25-23.

Samford heads south tomorrow to square off against the Georgia Southern Eagles at 6 p.m. CT.