MOREHEAD,Ky. – The Samford University volleyball team bounced back on the final day of the Comfort Inn-Vitational to defeat host institution Morehead State University 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-21) inside Wetherby Gym on Saturday, Sept. 19^th.
 
The Bulldogs (5-5) concluded the invitational with a convincing win over the Eagles (3-10) thanks to an overall solid outing from Samford in all facets of the game.
 
Junior outside hitter Erin Bognar paced the Bulldogs with 13 kills (.281) and turned in seven digs along with pair of service aces. Bognar was named to the Comfort Inn-Vitational All-Tournament Team along with redshirt-sophomore middle blocker T.J. Russell.
 
Russell tallied 21 kills (.304) over the weekend with six coming in the final match against Morehead.

Samford opened the match at an even keel with Morehead State with the lead changing back and forth until Bognar put away a ball that gave the Bulldogs a 13-12 lead in the initial set.
 
The Bulldogs took control of the match and the set from that moment on and rallied for a 12-4 run to take the set 25-16.
 
Offensively Samford hit .267 overall as a team and was consistent from set to set as the team hit .250 in the first set, .261 in the second and .290 in the third. The team was 35-of-55 (.630) in sideout opportunities.
 
Samford took control at the net as senior Emily Meitz and junior Gabbi Greenwald shut down the Eagles offense. Meitz tallied five total blocks, one solo and four assisted, while Greenwald chipped in three total blocks on the day.
 
Comfort Inn-Vitational All-Tournament Team
(MVP) Rylee Milhorn - East Tennessee State
Khadijah Wiley - East Tennessee State
Kristen Favre - East Tennessee State
Erin Brognar - Samford
T.J. Russell - Samford
Amanda Bedell - Akron
Allie Kellerman - Marshall
Jordan Jones - Morehead State
 
The Bulldogs open Southern Conference play on Friday, Sept. 25^th, with their home opener against Mercer University at the Pete Hanna Center. First serve is set for 7 p.m.