BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – The Samford University volleyball team hits the road for a pair of critical Southern Conference matches this weekend. The Bulldogs travel to take on The Citadel (6-15, 0-6 SoCon) on Friday, Oct. 17, at 5 p.m. and Furman University (12-5, 5-1 SoCon) on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 3 p.m. with both matches scheduled to air on the SoCon Digital Network.

SU (12-7, 6-0 SoCon) control its own destiny as they are now the only undefeated team left in the SoCon. The Bulldogs were locked in a tie with the Paladins until FU dropped a five-set thriller to Western Carolina University on Wednesday, Oct. 15. That however doesn't diminish the importance of the matchup between the leagues two top teams on Saturday.

Before Samford can think about taking on Furman, it first has to deal with the other Bulldogs in the SoCon. Earlier this season Samford faced The Citadel at home inside the Pete Hanna Center where SU downed the Bulldogs in three-straight  sets to remain an unblemished 6-0 all-time against the team from Charleston, S.C.

Three Samford Bulldogs tallied double-digit kill performances in that match as sophomore Erin Bognar put down 12 then was followed up by redshirt freshman T.J. Russell and senior Michaela Reesor who both notched 11 a piece in the decision.

Going into this weekend's matchups senior Chelsi Carter leads the Bulldogs with 38 service aces (0.54 a/s). Carter not only leads the team in this category but she also ranks fifth in the nation in both total aces and aces per set.