Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Kentucky – The Samford University volleyball team split in the final day of the NKU Invitation after taking the first match 3-2 over Eastern Michigan University in the early bird match before falling to Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville in the afternoon session 3-1.

Samford vs. Eastern Michigan: W, 3-2 (21-25, 25-23, 19-25, 25-17, 15-12) BOX SCORE
On a shorts night rest and an early 10 a.m. match against Eastern Michigan the Bulldogs (3-3) pulled together and persevered to emerge victorious.

"That was a gutsy effort this morning." Schroeder said. "Twelve hours after a disappointing match last night, I thought we responded well."

The first two sets of the match were both similar and opposite in several ways as the Bulldogs fell behind early then battled back to tie each one.
In the first set the Eastern Michigan jumped out in front early 4-0 before Samford could rally and tie it at 17-17. The Eagles responded to close out the set 25-21. Set two was similar in the fact that EMU jumped out again early forcing SU into a come from behind role. This time however the Bulldogs did respond and took set two from the Eagles 25-23.

"T.J. Russell and Michaela Reesor really stepped up for us in the second set and continued to play well through the rest of the match." Schroeder remarked.

The Bulldogs blocking effort really stepped up in the second set of the match as the team and Russell and Reesor led the way. Russell tallied six block assists and 10 kills while Reesor notched three block assists and one solo block that ended the match in the fifth set.

Reesor pounded 25 kills in the match to pace Samford's offensive efforts while sophomore Gabbi Greenwald tied her career-high with 14 kills.

Senior libero Chelsi Carter recorded five service aces and 24 digs while sophomore Erick Pifer tallied 55 assists.

Samford vs. Southern Illinois - Edwardsville: L, 3-1 (17-25, 25-23, 22-25, 23-25) BOX SCORE
In the evening event against SIUE the Bulldogs found itself in another back and forth grind it out match.

The Cougars hit a blistering .522 in the first set and recorded 15 kills on 23 attempts with only three errors while Samford tallied a .046 with only seven kills on 22 attempts and three errors.

SU responded in the second set thanks to solid defensive play and Reesor's attacking prowess where she tallied seven kills on 15 attempts (.538) in the set alone. Reesor finished with 18 total kills in the match to go along with two block assists.

SIUE finished the match with an overall .350 attack percentage and was led by Kristen Torre who tallied 18 kills on 27 attempts (.630).

Greenwald turned in another solid match with 11 kills on 23 attempts (.348) while Kiahna Wicks notched four block assists.

Samford sets it sights now on the Seminole Classic hosted by Florida State University on Friday, September 12, at 10 a.m. against the University of Central Arkansas.
 
 NKU Invitational All-Tournament Team