Match 1 Box Score
Match 2 Box Score
Updated Stats

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- On the opening day of its 2017 season Friday, the Samford University volleyball team tallied a 1-1 record at home at the annual Courtyard by Marriott Invitational behind held this weekend at the Pete Hanna Center. The Bulldogs cruised to a 3-0 victory over the Southeastern Louisiana Lions before coming up short in a five-set thriller against the Ohio Bobcats in a well-played battle of 2016 NCAA Tournament participants.
 
On Saturday, Samford (1-1) will conclude play in the two-day, four-team tournament at 3:30 p.m., against Murray State (1-1) in another match featuring two 2016 NCAA Tournament squads.
 
Ohio (2-0) is slated to square off against Southeastern Louisiana (0-2) in Saturday's opener beginning at 1 p.m. (CT). Admission is FREE for every match of the 2017 Courtyard by Marriott Invitational.
 
The Bulldogs opened their 2017 campaign in impressive fashion against the Lions with a 3-0 sweep. Samford dominated Southeastern Louisiana in the first set, 25-9, then notched wins of 26-24 and 25-21 in the final two stanzas.
 
Sophomore Kelsi Hobbs paced the Bulldogs with 13 kills, while Krista Boesing followed closely with 12. Shayla Phillip posted a solid .455 hitting percentage and junior setter Taylor Anderton accumulated 38 assists.
 
In Samford's second match of the day, the Bulldogs fell behind Ohio early as the Bobcats earned a 25-19 victory in the opening set. Samford then bounced back to win set two, 25-17, but Ohio garnered a 2-1 lead in the contest with a 25-20 victory in the third frame.
 
In a match that featured 28 ties and 14 lead changes, Samford stayed alive by winning the fourth set in close fashion 25-22.
 
The Bobcats posted a stellar 80.0-sideout percentage in the fifth-and-final set to rally for a 15-10 win in the final stanza and remain undefeated on the season.
 
Samford's Boesing registered a match-high 22 kills against Ohio, while Anderton notched 44 assists.
 
Murray State, which is the Bulldogs' upcoming opponent Saturday, won its third consecutive Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title in 2016, becoming just the sixth team in conference history to win three straight league crowns. The Racers also won their second OVC Tournament in the past three seasons and faced UCLA in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
Additionally, Murray State became the first team in program history to win a set at the NCAAs, winning the opening set against the Bruins, 25-21, before eventually losing the match in four sets. The Racers finished the season with a 23-9 overall record and also went 15-1 in league play for the second consecutive year.
 
Following this week's 2017 Courtyard by Marriott Invitational, the Samford University volleyball team will next be in action Sept. 1, as the Bulldogs begin play in the Loyola-Chicago Invite on the road in Chicago, Illinois, against the Milwaukee Panthers at 8 p.m. (CT).
 
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.
 
Saturday, Aug. 26
1:00 p.m. (CT) - - Southeastern Louisiana vs. Ohio
3:30 p.m. (CT) - - Samford vs. Murray State

Match 1 Box Score
Match 2 Box Score
Updated Stats