BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University volleyball team hits the road for the last time of the 2014 regular season with trips to Cullowhee, N.C. to take on Western Carolina University on Friday, Nov. 7, at 5 p.m. then set off to Johnson City, Tenn. to square off against East Tennessee State University on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 1 p.m. Both matches can be viewed via live stream courtesy of the SoCon Digital Network.

The Bulldogs (16-9, 10-2 SoCon) are coming off of a mixed week with a win over the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga last Wednesday to garner head coach Derek Schroeder with his 150^th career win but then dropped a devastating five-set thriller 3-2 to Mercer University the following Saturday.

Samford will attempt to bounce back yet again with a tough matchup against the Catamounts. Earlier this season SU defeated WCU handily 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-17) at home inside the Pete Hanna Center but the Catamounts are a tough opponent on their home court this season as they hold a 7-1 record inside the Ramsey Center.

The weekend only progresses in difficulty as Samford follows up WCU with a match against ETSU the following day. The Bulldogs snagged a 3-2 (25-17, 25-18, 21-25, 18-25, 15-13) decision against the Buccaneers at home earlier this year.
Samford easily took the first two sets over one of the better blocking teams in the SoCon but ETSU switched the momentum after the intermission and forced the Bulldogs into a five set gauntlet.

So far this season Samford has been extremely successful when taking the opening set of the match, so successful that the team is 14-0. The flip side is that the Bulldogs have struggled when the team drops the first set; SU is 2-9 when they concede the first set.

So it'll be critical for the Bulldogs to get off to a good start in each of these SoCon road matchups.