GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Samford University volleyball team faced its biggest Southern Conference test of the season and gutted out a 3-2 (25-23, 19-25, 20-25, 25-19, 16-14) victory over Furman University on Saturday, Oct. 18, at Alley Gym to extend its win streak to 10 games. Senior Michaela Reesor proved why she was named the 2013 SoCon Player of the Year after she posted a double-double of 19 kills and 16 digs with a block and service ace also to her credit in the match.

"That was definitely a 'gut one out' match." Head Coach Derek Schroeder stated. "We got kind of lucky in set one then went away from our game plan and executed horribly throughout sets two and three. We did though keep getting a little cleaner as the rest of the match wore on and we barely pulled one out against a very good Furman team."

The Bulldogs (14-7, 8-0 SoCon) were reeling in the first set as the Paladins (13-6, 6-2 SoCon) jumped on top 18-12. At that moment something clicked, after a service error by FU's Caitlyn Scioscia to make the score 18-13, Samford turned the tables on Furman. SU ripped off a 10-1 run behind the arms of Reesor and sophomore Gabbi Greenwald to take a 21-19 lead and the momentum.

That's all the team would need as they closed out the initial set 25-23.

The Paladins didn't back down in the second set as they came out and battled to regain traction on its home court. FU gained separation midway through the set and took a 15-11 lead over SU that it wouldn't relinquish and eventually took the set 25-19.

FU didn't let up off the gas in the third set as they kept the pressure on SU and took advantage of several offensive miscues made by the Bulldogs to take the set 25-20 and a 2-1 lead in the match.

Samford didn't lose hope and dug down deep to muscle out a 25-19 win in the fourth set; SU never trailed or let FU tie the set at any point. Sophomore Erin Bognar led the way with four kills while senior libero Chelsi Carter lifted five digs to keep the Bulldogs in the match.

The fifth set of the match came down to the wire as there were 10 ties and four lead changes in the emotional 16-14 set. Each team battled back and forth until Reesor and Bognar cranked out the final two kills to end the match.
Bognar finished the night with 19 kills, six digs and a solo block while Carter matched her career-high with 31 digs to go along with her 41^st service ace of the season. Greenwald tallied 11 kills and four total blocks with redshirt freshman T.J. Russell who contributed nine kills and four total blocks. Junior Emily Meitz led all blockers with five total.

Sophomore setter Erika Pifer provided a complete-match performance with 56 assists, four total blocks, four digs and three service aces.

"After the first half of SoCon season we feel like we are a team that has the talent but we are definitely a system team." Schroeder said. "However, as in any system if any part breaks down you are going to find yourself in trouble. We need to keep improving on our executions and contacts every week through to the end of the year." 
 
The Bulldogs return home for a three-match slate that starts with East Tennessee State University on Friday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. inside the Pete Hanna Center. The match can be watched via live video stream on the SoCon Digital Network.