Box Score BOONE, N.C. ---- Samford concluded its regular season on the road Sunday afternoon, earning a 3-0 sweep over Appalachian State.  The Bulldogs finish the season with a five-match lead in the North Division and are tied for the second-best conference record at 14-2.
 
Samford (22-8, 14-2 SoCon) faltered a bit in the first set but the offense came alive in the second and third, hitting .346 and .438, respectively.  Chelsi Carter earned a career-best 15 kills on 29 swings and tied a personal best with four service aces, including three in a row in the third set.  Michaela Reesor earned eight kills, moving her into 10th on the single-season top ten at Samford with 403 so far this season.  Casey Garvey earned 39 assists and ten digs, her ninth double-double of the season, while Alexis Bauer earned 19 digs, putting her within 12 of the Samford single-season record.
 
Appalachian State (7-23, 3-13 SoCon) scored 25 points in the first set but mustered only 30 combined in the second and third.  Senior Courtney Rhein led the defense with 11 digs while Jessica Ely led the offense with seven kills.
 
The Mountaineers fought hard in their home finale, taking advantage of Bulldog errors and keeping the match close in the opening frame.  Tied at 13-13, two kills by Carter and a service ace down the left line by Taylor Chao gave the 'Dogs a three-point lead and Appalachian State took a timeout.  Appalachian State fought back late, tying the match at 25-25 after Samford reached set point, but ultimately the Bulldogs won 27-25 behind back-to-back kills by Murphy and Hutchinson.
 
Samford wasted no time pulling ahead in set two, as an Alicia Roth service ace tipped off the net to cap a 4-0 run, making it 7-2 Bulldogs with the Mountaineers taking a timeout.  Appalachian State drew within three but Samford quickly charged back ahead, leading by seven, up 15-8.  The Bulldogs made it a double-digit lead late in the set, up 22-12, and eventually won 25-13.
 
An enthusiastic Bulldog team took the early lead in set three, with four kills and a block giving Samford the 5-1 lead.  The Mountaineers drew within two, down 10-8, but Samford rebounded with four in a row to move up 14-8 and force the home team into another timeout.  Up 16-11, Carter came to the service line and ripped off three aces in a row to make it 19-11.  Samford wrapped up the sweep with another impressive finish in set three, winning 25-17.
 
Next weekend, Samford will compete in the 2012 SoCon Tournament in Davidson, N.C.  The tournament begins with four quarterfinal matches on Saturday, Nov. 17, continues with two semifinal matches on Sunday, Nov. 18 and concludes with the championship match on Monday, Nov. 19.
 
Samford will enter the tournament as the No. 1 North Division seed for the second-consecutive season.  They will be matched up against the host team and No. 4 South Division seed Davidson (11-15, 7-9 SoCon) at 7 p.m. ET.
 
2012 SOCON TOURNAMENT MATCHES - QUARTERFINALS
10 a.m. - #2N Elon vs. #3S Furman
12:30 p.m. - #1S Georgia Southern vs. #4N UNCG
4:30 p.m. - #2S College of Charleston vs. #3N Chattanooga
7 p.m. - #1N Samford vs. #4S Davidson