Box Score CHARLESTON, S.C. ---- Samford got the second half of the SoCon season off to a great start, earning their third-straight sweep, defeating The Citadel 3-0 on Friday night.
 
Samford (15-9, 6-3 SoCon) outpaced The Citadel (5-20, 0-9 SoCon) in nearly every statistical category, earning over twice as many assists (47-18) and kills (48-20) with ten more digs, 43-33.  Katie Murphy led all players with 15 kills and a .480 attack percentage, marking her fourth-straight match with at least a .400 hitting percentage and double-digit kills.  Michaela Reesor trailed close behind with 14 kills, finishing one dig shy of a double-double with nine digs.  Reesor's .407 hitting percentage is her highest in SoCon play so far this season.
 
Samford jumped ahead to an early 6-2 lead in set one before The Citadel scored three in a row to draw within one, down 6-5.  Samford answered right back with three unanswered points, moving ahead 9-5 as The Citadel burned its first timeout.  Later, up 15-11, Samford looked to put the set out of reach with eight unanswered points, leading 23-11 before The Citadel would score a point.  Samford would reach set point, 24-12, and The Citadel would score four before a kill by Murphy finally shut the door, giving Samford a 25-16 victory.
 
The Citadel scored the opening point of set two and held a slim lead until a kill by Gabbi Greenwald tied it at 8-8 and Murphy gave Samford the 9-8 lead with a kill of her own.  Samford held the lead but The Citadel kept it close, as Samford hit the 20-point mark with a five-point lead, 20-15, as The Citadel took a timeout.  The visiting Bulldogs kept the momentum out of the break, scoring three more points to move up 23-15 before the home Bulldogs would break the streak with a point to make it 23-16.  A bad set by The Citadel gave Samford set point and a line drive down the line by Greenwald sealed it as Samford won, 25-16, to build a 2-0 match lead.
 
The Citadel tied the third frame three different times early on, but Samford would not give up its lead, eventually stretching ahead 13-8 thanks to a 5-1 run.  Samford would hold the five-point lead when, up 18-13, a 4-0 run would give the Bulldogs considerable cushion leading 22-13.  A kill by Emily Meitz set up match point, 24-16, and a Citadel attack error sealed it as Samford won set three, 25-16, to complete the sweep.
 
Samford has a quick turnaround, as they will head down the coast to play conference leader Georgia Southern (20-3, 8-1 SoCon) on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.  On Friday night, Georgia Southern defeated Chattanooga, 3-1.