BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – The Samford University volleyball team returns to Southern Conference action this weekend as the team plays host to Western Carolina University on Friday, Oct. 3, for its annual Dig Orange match to raise awareness for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in honor of former teammate Caroline Neisler. The Bulldogs also welcome The Citadel to the Pete Hanna Center on Saturday, Oct. 4, to wrap up play for the weekend; both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Bulldogs hold a 13-4 record all-time over the WCU Catamounts while they also sport a perfect 5-0 record over the Bulldogs from the Citadel. The last time Samford dropped a match to WCU came at home inside the Pete Hanna Center on Oct. 4, last season; SU fell 3-2 to WCU in the contest.

SU enters the match after a thrilling 3-2 victory over cross-city rival UAB on Tuesday, Sept. 30. The Bulldogs tallied 184 total attempts and recorded a season-high 72 kills in the match. Sophomore setter Erika Pifer had an outstanding game for Samford as she tallied a career-high 63 assists and four total blocks.

Senior outside hitter Michaela Reesor is progressively getting closer to becoming the all-time career kill leader in Samford history. The Caledon, Ontario, Canada native has 180 kills on the season which brings her career total to 1,374. She is chasing former SU standout Melissa Karwowski who holds the record with 1,617 kills over her four years with the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs are 1-0 in SoCon play so far this year and sit third in the overall standings as Furman (10-4, 3-0 SoCon) and UNCG (9-5, 2-0 SoCon) are ahead because they have played more conference matches.

Samford continues SoCon play next Wednesday, Oct. 8, when the team welcomes Mercer University to the Pete Hanna Center; the match is slated to start at  6 p.m.