Sept. 2, 2011

Box Score

MOBILE, Ala. ---- The Samford Bulldogs (5-0) began competition at the South Alabama Tournament in Mobile, Ala., earning a 3-0 victory over Alabama A&M (1-5) to remain undefeated so far this season. Three of their five victories have now come in straight sets.

"A&M played very well on offense and defense," said Head Coach Derek Schroeder, "but we just executed a little better. Michaela [Reesor] and [Taylor] Palmer were both impressive today and [Elizabeth] Neisler was very efficient taking some big swings late in sets."

"We were working on some things in serve receiving and transition that worked very well. I was happy with those improvements."

Neisler and Lauren Hutchinson were the enforcers at the net, combining for 19 kills and five blocks. Newcomer Reesor is already showing veteran poise, earning nine kills this match and leading the team in hitting percentage at .615. At defense, the dependable duo of Chelsi Carter and Alexis Bauer again proved vital, earning 19 of the team's 35 digs.

Samford started strongly, winning the first set 25-21. Tied at 3-3 in the first set, Hutchinson rattled off five consecutive successful serves, including two aces, with Reesor earning two kills during the rally to help pull Samford ahead 8-3. A&M regained their stride, tying the game at ten, but then Samford stole the momentum, jumping ahead 16-12 thanks in part to three kills by Hutchinson setup by Casey Garvey. The Bulldogs maintained the gap, allowing Neisler to seal the four-point victory with the final kill off an A&M serve.

Beginning the second game, the teams traded points back and forth, with neither taking more than a three-point lead. After an Alabama A&M timeout with Samford up 13-10, Samford went on to earn their largest lead of the game, 19-13, with kills by Neisler, Hutchinson, Carter, and a solo block by Katie Murphy. A&M threatened down the stretch, drawing within three and earning possession down 24-21, but Reesor came through, earning the final point for the Bulldogs to win game two.

The third set started much like the second, with teams trading points in a neck-and-neck battle. Tied at 11-11, Samford took control with a 8-1 rally to move ahead 19-12. Samford's primary server Casey Garvey proved valuable in that stretch, earning back-to-back service aces during a four-point consecutive serving rally. The final points of the match fell Samford's way largely to A&M errors, including the final point to seal the 25-19 victory.

The Bulldogs play two matches tomorrow, first facing off against Louisiana Tech at 1 p.m. and then Southeastern Louisiana at 5 p.m.