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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University volleyball team will begin play in the 2016 Southern Conference Championship on Saturday at noon (CST) as the fourth-seeded Bulldogs square off against the No. 5-seeded Wofford Terriers in the opening round of the three-day competition to be held at the Pete Hanna Center.
 
Samford (18-13, 9-7 SoCon) is hosting the nine-team SoCon Championship this weekend, Saturday through Monday, where the Bulldogs boast an impressive 11-2 record at the Pete Hanna Center this season. Last week, Samford extended its winning streak to five in the PHC with a 3-0 victory over Wofford (17-14, 9-7 SoCon).
 
The Bulldogs enter the 2016 SoCon Championship as the No. 4-seeded team in the competition. Wofford concluded conference play tied for fourth place with Samford, but lost the tiebreaker with the Bulldogs, therefore garnered the No. 5 seed.
 
Last week, Samford split a pair of matches at home against Wofford and UNCG. After sweeping Wofford on Wednesday, 3-0, the Bulldogs came up short versus UNCG on Senior Night, 3-1, held in Seibert Hall. Despite its recent loss, Samford has been victorious in six of its last nine matches, dating back to Oct. 19.
 
The Terriers have been triumphant in three of their last four outings. Since losing on the road at first-place ETSU on Oct. 28, 3-0, Wofford rattled off three straight victories against Chattanooga, 3-1, The Citadel, 3-1, and Mercer, 3-2. The Terriers' only loss since Oct 28, occurred at Samford, 3-0.
 
The Bulldogs lead the all-time series between the teams by a total of 11-2, but Wofford defeated Samford earlier this season in Spartanburg, South Carolina, 3-1, on Oct. 15. The Bulldogs have never lost to Wofford when playing at home in the Pete Hanna Center and own a 7-0 record in Birmingham.
 
Samford opened the all-time series with a perfect 9-0 record against the Terriers before losing on the road, 3-0, last season.
 
The semifinal round of the tournament will be held on Sunday, Nov. 20, with matches scheduled for 2 p.m., and 4:30 p.m., before it culminates at 6 p.m., on Monday, Nov. 21, with the championship match. The tournament champion will earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Volleyball Championships.
 
For quick score updates, breaking news and links to all of your favorite articles featuring the Bulldogs, please follow @SamfordVB and @Samford_Sports on Twitter.
 
2016 Southern Conference Volleyball Championship
Pete Hanna Center ? Birmingham, Ala.
 
Saturday, Nov. 19
 
First Round
Match 1: #8 Furman vs. #9 The Citadel, 9:30 a.m. (SDN)
 
Quarterfinals
Match 2: #4 Samford vs. #5 Wofford, Noon (SDN)
Match 3: #1 ETSU vs. Match 1 winner, 2:30 p.m. (SDN)
Match 4: #2 UNCG vs. #7 Western Carolina, 5 p.m. (SDN)
Match 5: #3 Chattanooga vs. #6 Mercer, 7:30 p.m. (SDN)
 
Sunday, Nov. 20
 
Semifinals
Match 6: Match 2 winner vs. Match 3 winner, 2 p.m. (SDN)
Match 7: Match 4 winner vs. Match 5 winner, 4:30 p.m. (SDN)
 
Monday, Nov. 21
 
Championship
Match 8: Match 6 winner vs. Match 7 winner, 6 p.m. (ESPN3)

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