AUBURN, Ala. – The Samford University volleyball team secured its first victory of the season with a 3-0 sweep of Stephen F. Austin University on the second day of the War Eagle Invitational inside Auburn Arena on Saturday, Aug. 29^th.

The Bulldogs (1-1) showed up in a big way to start the match against the Ladyjacks (0-2) as the team streaked out to a 5-0 lead in the first set.

Junior outside hitter Erin Bognar flashed reasons of why she was selected to the 2015 Preseason All-SoCon Team as she went 7-of-15 (.333) from the attack line. Bognar also helped out defensively with five digs in the set to provide support for sophomore libero Morgan St. Germain.

Samford closed out the set 25-21 to take the initial lead in the match.

The Bulldogs didn't let up to start the second set as junior Gabbi Greenwald led the charge to put SU up 5-0 over SFA.

Junior Kiahna Wicks was the standout in the set as she put down five kills on five attacks in the set to lead the Bulldogs to another 25-21 decision. Wicks finished the match 8-of-7 (.429) and only two errors.

The Ladyjacks pushed back in the final set of the match and held a lead as large as 7-3 early on but the Bulldogs would not be denied and fought back to tie the set 7-7 thanks in part to a pair of kills from freshman Krista Boesing.

Stephen F. Austin never held the lead again in the match but pushed back late in the third set to put pressure on Samford. Freshman setter Taylor Anderton dumped to the deep corner and down the middle late to go along with a solo block to swing momentum back to the Samford side and secure the match.

Bognar led the team with 13 kills (.222) and added 13 digs while Boesing added her second double-digit kill performance with 11 (.360) and Greenwald tallied 10 kills (.172). Defensively it was St. Germain who came away with team leading 17 digs while Anderton recorded her second double-double in as many days with 39 assists and 11 digs.

The Bulldogs will return to action tonight when they take on Auburn University in the nightcap of the War Eagle Invitational at 7:30 p.m. on the SEC Network +.