GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Samford University volleyball team improved to 5-0 in Southern Conference play and extended its win streak to seven after grinding out a 3-1 victory over UNCG on Friday, Oct. 10.
"I couldn't be more proud of the girls tonight and the way we won." Head Coach
Derek Schroeder said. "We came out and executed really well in the first two sets, we did show some immaturity out of the break and lost our first contact but when it came time to gut out a win we made the plays we needed to."
The Bulldogs (11-7, 5-0 SoCon) and the Spartans (10-8-, 2-3 SoCon) went back-and-forth in the first set until Samford took an 11 – 10 lead after back-to-back aces from senior libero
Chelsi Carter.
That's when the Spartans came alive rallied for an 8-3 run to take an 18-14 lead in the first set.
SU didn't fold and weathered brunt of the UNCG rally to mount a comeback and win the set 26-24 on a solo block from redshirt freshman
T.J. Russell.
Samford and UNCG continued to battle in the second set but the Bulldogs found a little separation and took a 10-7 lead after an
Erika Pifer ace.
That little bit of separation is all that Samford needed as the team poured it on with a combination of service aces and blocks that left UNCG unable to respond with a counter.
The Spartans found an offensive rhythm in the third set and exploited a 6-1 run to take a 13-8 lead.
From there the lead of five was one that the Bulldogs were not able to overcome as the team dropped its first Southern Conference set since Chattanooga back on Sept. 26, 25-18.
The Bulldogs and the Spartans locked up again in the fourth set and UNCG held a 12-9 lead early on. Junior
Emily Meitz and company stepped up to the challenge to rally for a 6-1 run to swing the lead into SU's favor 15-12.
UNCG battled back and eventually tied the set 23-23 but dropped the decision 25-23 in the set and the match after two offensive miscues.
