Friday, Sept. 22  |  The Citadel at Samford  |  7 p.m. (CT)  |  Video  |  Live Stats
Saturday, Sept. 23  |  Wofford at Samford  |  7 p.m. (CT)  |  Video  |  Live Stats

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University volleyball team will begin play in its Southern Conference schedule this weekend as the Bulldogs welcome The Citadel Bulldogs and the Wofford Terriers to the Pete Hanna Center for a pair of key league matches. Samford will host The Citadel on Friday at 7 p.m. (CT) and Wofford on Saturday at 7 p.m.
 
Samford (5-9, 0-0 SoCon) enters its conference-opening weekend with a full head of steam after recently turning in its best day of the young 2017 season Saturday as the Bulldogs toppled the undefeated and homestanding Indiana Hoosiers, 3-2, before beating the UNLV Rebels, 3-1, at the Hoosier Classic, which was hosted by Indiana University at University Gym.
 
Samford finished the two-day, four-team competition with a 2-1 record and junior setter Taylor Anderton was named to the all-tournament team. On Monday, Anderton was named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Week for her outstanding performance at the event.
 
The Bulldogs are in the midst of a two-match winning streak and own a 3-3 record in neutral-site contests. At home this season, Samford is 1-3 with a win against Southeast Louisiana, but losses to Ohio, Murray State and Alabama.
 
Krista Boesing, the Bulldogs' junior outside hitter from New Albany, Indiana, is currently ranked No. 9 in the nation with 221 kills this season.
 
The Citadel (5-11, 0-0 SoCon) enters conference play with a full head of steam after earning a lopsided 3-0 victory over Savannah State on Tuesday. The Bulldogs won by scores of 25-14, 25-18 and 25-21, in the home triumph.
 
When playing on the road this season, The Citadel holds an 0-2 record. The Bulldogs fell at Campbell, 3-1, on Aug. 25, before losing at East Carolina, 3-0, on Sept. 9.
 
Senior outside hitter Moriah Smith leads The Citadel in kills with 139, while sophomore libero Caricia Rodriquez paces her squad with 203 digs and freshmen setter has already registered a team-high 254 assists.
 
Wofford (9-5, 0-1 SoCon) heads into the weekend looking to bounce back from a 3-1 SoCon-opening loss to Furman on Wednesday. The match proved to be the Terriers' first conference contest of the season and the first volleyball game held inside the brand-new Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.
 
The setback snapped Wofford's three-match winning streak. Since dropping a 3-1 decision at Davidson on Sept. 9, the Terriers registered three straight victories against Davidson, 3-1, Georgia State, 3-0, and South Carolina State, 3-0.
 
Catie Cronister, Wofford's sophomore outside hitter from Chicago, Illinois, leads her team with 217 kills this season. Junior defensive specialist Taylor Gill, who recently transferred from Ole Miss, paces the Terriers with 237 digs this season. Additionally, sophomore setter Lorissa King boasts a total of 471 assists in 2017.
 
Last year, Samford swept The Citadel, 3-0 and 3-0, while finishing 2-1 against Wofford. The Bulldogs lost to the Terriers on the road in Spartanburg, South Carolina, 3-1, but then bounced back to post a pair of 3-0 triumphs late in the season, including a victory in the opening round of the SoCon Tournament.
 
Following this weekend's pair of home SoCon matches against The Citadel and Wofford, the Samford University volleyball team will next be in action Sept. 29 and 30, as the Bulldogs travel to Western Carolina and UNCG for two key road conference matchups.
 
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Friday, Sept. 22  |  The Citadel at Samford  |  7 p.m. (CT)  |  Video  |  Live Stats
Saturday, Sept. 23  |  Wofford at Samford  |  7 p.m. (CT)  |  Video  |  Live Stats