Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford offense was firing on all cylinders in the opening day of the Bulldog Invitational Friday, as the home squad earned two convincing sweeps over Alcorn State and Tennessee Tech.
 
Samford improved its record to 7-6 behind two dominating performances, limiting both opponents to negative hitting percentages.  Samford hit a season-high .429 against Alcorn State and followed with a .327 clip against Tennessee Tech.  Michaela Reesor earned a combined 23 kills, including a double-double in the Tennessee Tech match with 13 kills and 14 digs. Selina Schirmer made her first career start as the setter in the match against Alcorn State, earning 25 assists and five service aces.  The defense was strong as well, as Samford earned a combined 12 team blocks and 92 digs.
 
Samford 3, Alcorn State 0
The Bulldogs built a substantial early lead in set one over the Braves thanks to sustained service rallies by Alexis Bauer and Alicia Roth, as Samford was up 10-3.  Alcorn State would draw within eight, down 15-7, but that was the closest they would come as Samford rattled off ten unanswered points to earn the 25-7 set victory.
 
The second frame was the most decisive of the match, as the Bulldogs built a 13-2 lead to force an Alcorn State timeout.  The Braves would only score three points during the remainder of the set, as Samford charged ahead to a 25-5 victory, the team's largest set win so far this season.
 
Leading 6-2 in set three with Lauren Hutchinson at the service line, Samford put up four unanswered points to move ahead 10-2.  Samford improved its lead to ten after an Emily Meitz kill made the score 16-6 and then three consecutive points gave the Bulldogs a 19-6 lead.  With Samford at match point, up 24-8, the Braves got a point off a service error but Hutchinson sealed the frame with a kill to give the Bulldogs the 25-9 win and the 3-0 sweep.
 
Samford 3, Tennessee Tech 0
The Samford offense was equally as relentless against the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech.  The visitors would draw within three, down 7-4, but Samford pulled far ahead thanks to a 9-0 run as the Bulldogs went up 16-4.  Neither team could maintain possession for more than two points in the closing stretch, but the lead proved large enough for Samford to earn a 25-10 win.
 
Set two would be the closest of the match, though Samford still ended up with a comfortable eight-point lead.  Samford's three-point lead, up 7-4, would be the closest of the match.  Samford maintained possession for the majority of the set, eventually leading by ten, up 20-10.  The Golden Eagles would outscore the Bulldogs down the home stretch, 7-5, but again the lead proved large enough for Samford to pull out the 25-17 win, despite hitting .184 as a team.
 
The final frame was the match's most decisive as Samford built an early 10-3 lead to force a Tennessee Tech timeout.  The Golden Eagles would only score five more points in the rest of the set as Samford hit .462 as a team en route to a 25-8 victory to cap the 3-0 sweep.
 
Samford concludes its weekend tomorrow at 2 p.m. as they face Gardner-Webb (4-10).
 
BULLDOG INVITATIONAL DAY ONE RESULTS
Samford 3, Alcorn State 0
Gardner-Webb 3, Tennessee Tech 0
Gardner-Webb 3, Alcorn State 0
Samford 3, Tennessee Tech 0