GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Samford University volleyball team blasted its' way to the SoCon Championship finals for the second consecutive year with a decisive 3-0 victory over UNCG on their home court of Fleming Gymnasium on Sunday, Nov. 23.

The Bulldogs found itself in a battle from the initial set and trailed the Spartans until the team gained 11-10 lead thanks to a UNCG attack error. From that point forward sophomores Gabbi Greenwald and Erin Bognar stepped up and led a 4-1 SU offensive surge to give the team a 15-12 cushion.

The Spartans brought the first set as close as 16-15 but the Bulldogs determination didn't waiver and proceeded to rally for a 9-3 run behind Greenwald and Bognar to close out the set 25-18.

UNCG took advantage of the home court setting and raced out to another lead in the second set before SU could settle back into an offensive groove. This time however the Bulldogs relied on something they're not really know for, its' blocking.

Samford captured its first lead of the second set thanks to a 6-1 run where the team recorded four of its points on blocks. Once with the lead Greenwald and Bognar went back to work from the right and left ends of the net to earn another set and give SU a 2-0 lead heading into the intermission.

SU found itself down yet again in the third set and this time by as many as six points. There was no sense of panic amongst the players and the team kept grinding to chip away at the Spartans lead. The lead shrunk drastically and was eventually tied 12-12 thanks to a Chelsi Carter service ace.

There would be two more times where SU would tie the match before the Bulldogs finally broke through to capture the lead 19-18. Junior middle blocker Emily Meitz tattooed an over pass straight back down to the Spartans side of the net to give Samford its first lead in the third set.

The Bulldogs never looked back and only allowed the Spartans to tie the set once more before the team captured the set 25-23 and a sweep of the match.

Greenwald and Bognar notched 13 kills apiece while Greenwald hit an incredible .571 in the match.

Samford's defense was on point yet again as Carter spearheaded the effort with 22 digs and three service aces that kept UNCG's offense off balance.

The Bulldogs will take on the Paladins of Furman University in the SoCon Championship finals on Monday, Nov. 24, at 5 p.m. (CST). Live video of the match will be streamed courtesy of ESPN 3.