Furman Live Stats - SoCon Digital Network

UNCG Live Stats - SoCon Digital Network

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University volleyball team sets its sights on a crucial pair of Southern Conference matches this weekend as the team travels to take on Furman University (10/23) and UNCG (10/24) for the opportunity to bounce back from last weekend's results.
 
The Bulldogs (8-9, 3-4 SoCon) currently rank 7^th overall in the Southern Conference standings as the team heads in the second round of play between conference opponents. Senior Emily Meitz ranks 4^th overall in the SoCon in hitting percentage as she has connected for 84 kills on 190 attempts for a .358 average.
 
Meitz also ranks 3^rd in the SoCon in blocks as she is averaging an even 1.00 blocks per set average and has tallied 42 total on the year.
 
The matchups against the Paladins (12-6, 6-2 SoCon) and the Spartans (15-8, 5-3 SoCon) will be tough as both teams are ranked in the top tier of the conference standings. Furman has split their last four matches which include wins over 1^st place Chattanooga and 6^th place Mercer while UNCG has won their last five SoCon matches headed into this weekend.
 
Behind Meitz's senior leadership the Bulldogs will continue to rely on the growth and development of underclassmen such as freshman outside hitter Krista Boesing, who is the only freshman in the top 10 of the SoCon standings in kills with 174.
 
Other youngsters to keep an eye on this weekend are redshirt freshman Kate Neisler, redshirt sophomore T.J. Russell, sophomore Morgan St. Germain and freshman Alana Schouten. As of right now, Schouten ranks 4^th in the SoCon in service aces with an average of .300 per set.
 
Samford will first need to contend with a stout Furman squad that features the likes of junior Annie Bierman who leads the SoCon in kills with an average of 4.26 kills per set and 281 total kills on the season. Bierman also ranks 9^th in the SoCon in digs with an average of 3.62 digs per set.
 
In the Bulldogs second contest of the weekend the team will be faced with another Southern Conference leader in UNCG's Katherine Santiago. Santiago has tallied 371 total digs through 75 sets to pace the SoCon with an average of 4.95 digs per set on the season.
 
UNCG's offense features a balanced attack which is initiated by freshman setter Allison Penner. Penner has dished out 668 assists through 59 sets to rank 2^nd overall in the SoCon with an 11.32 assists per set average.
 
Fans can follow both matches via live stats and can watch the Bulldogs on the SoCon Digital Network. Samford will also provide live match updates on Twitter from @SamfordVB.