Samford University
Georgia Tech
Samford Falls to Georgia, Rebounds Against Georgia Tech
9.10.11 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 10, 2011
Georgia Box Score 
Georgia Tech Box Score
ATLANTA, Ga. ---- The Samford Bulldogs (9-1) split two matches today, losing to Georgia (4-5), 1-3, early for their first loss of the season, but rebounding to beat host team Georgia Tech (6-4), 3-1, in the final game of the tournament. In total, the Bulldogs were 2-1 on the weekend after a 3-0 victory over Mercer Friday.
Numerous Bulldogs were also honored for their outstanding play this weekend. Lauren Hutchinson and Katie Murphy were named to the All-Tournament team, Alexis Bauer was named the Most Valuable Libero and Elizabeth Neisler was the Tournament MVP.
Neisler was the Bulldogs' offensive leader Saturday, tallying 36 kills between the two matches. Murphy and Hutchinson were also in double-digits both matches, each totaling 24 on the day. Bauer was the primary serve receiver on the day, taking 28 of the team's 92 digs. Michaela Reesor found herself playing a role on defense as well, taking 15 digs in the Georgia match. Blocking duties were spread evenly, but Hutchinson led the team with nine assisted blocks and one solo.
Match One: Samford 1, Georgia 3 (26-28, 25-17, 28-30, 16-25)
In the battle of the Bulldogs, it was Georgia that came out on top, giving an undefeated Samford team its first loss of the season. Two of the four games stretched past the 25-point mark, as it was a tightly contested match. Hitting percentages were nearly identical, as Georgia barely held the edge .228-.218. The usual trio of Neisler, Hutchinson and Murphy were all in double-digit kills but all hit under .250.
Samford jumped to the early 12-6 lead in game one, not allowing Georgia to maintain any service rallies. Down 7-13, Georgia started to establish some momentum, rattling off three points to cut the defecit to three. The teams traded points back and forth, but Samford maintained their lead until Georgia eventually tied it at 22-22. Neither team relented more than a one-point lead, stretching the game until Georgia won 28-26.
Samford evened it up in the second game, winning 25-17. After falling behind 3-6, Samford regained possession off a service error and Hutchinson served three in a row successfully, giving Samford a lead which they never relented for the rest of the game. Down the stretch, Georgia threatened, drawing within five, but Hutchinson again had an extended rally with kills by Murphy and Carter to go up 24-15. Georgia regained possession but Reesor finished the game with a kill set up by Casey Garvey.
The third game was the longest one so far this season for Samford, with the teams combining for 58 points. Samford maintained control for most of the first half of the game, maintaining a multi-point lead until Georgia eventually tied it at 20-20. Neisler brought Samford one point away from the win with a service ace to make it 24-23, but a service error allowed Georgia to tie it up and regain possession. The teams traded points as neither could earn the two-point lead required to win. Tied 28-28, Georgia earned a kill to regain possession and a Samford attack error gave Georgia the 30-28 win.
Georgia earned a more decisive victory in the fourth game, 25-16, to seal their 3-1 victory. Samford chipped away throughout the match, but Georgia capitalized on long service rallies to earn a 17-10 lead. Neisler looked to start a comeback for Samford, earning a kill and preventing Georgia from scoring their final point. Samford earned a point after regaining possession but Georgia followed that with the game-winning kill.
Match Two: Samford 3, Georgia Tech 1 (25-20, 25-23, 24-26, 25-18)
After Samford lost its first match of the season earlier in the day, they closed the tournament in fine fashion, earning a 3-1 victory over host team Georgia Tech. Neisler led the team again in kills (19, .318) while Murphy and Hutchinson both earned 14. The Yellow Jackets had more blocks and digs, but that did not prove enough to counter the Bulldog's offensive power.
Georgia Tech earned the first point of game one, but Samford quickly earned possession off a Murphy kill and rattled off three more points to take the 4-1 lead. The Yellow Jackets tied it up at 8-8 and again at 9-9, but Samford never relented the lead after that point. Up 19-18, Neisler slammed one down and Garvey helped serve up three unanswered points, including one ace, to bring the Bulldogs within two points of the win. The Yellow Jackets had possession for the set point, but an attack error gave Samford the 25-20 win in game one.
Samford earned a tightly-contested game two by the minimum two points, 25-23. The game was defined by extended rallies, with each team taking gaining significant leads before the other closes the gap. Samford took a timeout down 8-11 and gained possession off a Georgia Tech service error. Chelsi Carter followed serving five in a row to put the Bulldogs up 14-11 and forcing a Yellow Jacket timeout. Georgia Tech bounced back to tie it at 15-15 and the teams traded points, eventually ending up tied at 23-23. Georgia Tech had possession, but a kill by Neisler gave Samford the ball for the set point and Hutchinson finished it off, setting up Samford for the potential 3-0 victory.
Georgia Tech, however, had other plans, winning another tightly-contested set by two, 26-24. Down 8-11, the Yellow Jackets went on a 5-0 run to gain the lead, 13-11. The rest of the set was a back-and-forth affair, with eight points down the stretch where the game was tied. Tied at 24-24, it was a game either team could win. Georgia Tech earned possession on a Samford attack error to go up by one and sealed the win with a service ace.
Samford took an early 9-4 lead, forcing the Yellow Jackets to take a timeout. The Bulldogs maintained a lead, but Georgia Tech hung with them every step of the way. The Bulldogs were only up 20-18 when they took it to another gear, serving five unanswered points with Garvey leading the rally.
Samford wraps up pre-conference play at the Bethune-Cookman Tournament next weekend in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Bulldogs will face Savanna State (1 p.m. CT) and Stetson (5 p.m.) on Friday, Sept. 16 and then play Bethune-Cookman (8 a.m.) and Hampton (1 p.m.) on Saturday, Sept. 17.
