Samford vs. Delaware State - - Box Score
Samford at UTEP - - Box Score
Updated Stats

EL PASO, Texas -- The Samford University volleyball team played a pair of matches in two different states Friday as the Bulldogs defeated Delaware State, 3-0, in the opening contest of the 2017 Borderland Invitational held at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Samford then traveled to UTEP and came up just short in a hard-fought, four-set match against the Miners, 3-1.
 
The Bulldogs will continue play in the Borderland Invitational on Saturday at noon (CT) as they meet Abilene Christian back in Las Cruces. Samford (3-5) will then close out the four-match, two-day event at 8 p.m., versus New Mexico State.
 
Against Delaware State (0-7) Friday morning, the Bulldogs barely broke a sweat in a lopsided 3-0 victory. Samford won three straight sets by counts of 25-11, 25-14 and 25-19.
 
The Bulldogs were paced in the match by sophomore Kelsi Hobbs with 21 kills. True freshman Kendal Strand also turned in a quality performance with a double-double tally that included 12 kills and 13 digs. Fellow freshman Corinne Meglic handed out 38 assists, while senior Morgan St. Germain and sophomore Grace Tiesman added 10 digs apiece.
 
On the road at UTEP (2-5) in the nightcap, all four sets were decided by an average margin of three points and no margin greater than four.
 
The homestanding Minors took the first two sets, 25-22 and 25-21, before Samford bounced back to take the third frame, 25-22. UTEP was then able to hold off a late Bulldog surge for a 25-23 match-clinching win in the fourth set.
 
Samford's Hobbs again led the team with 16 kills on 39 attempts, while junior Krista Boesing followed closely with 15 kills. Hobbs also added a team-high 16 digs for a key double-double performance. Junior Taylor Anderton posted 33 assists, while Tiesman registered 14 digs.
 
Following play in this weekend's Borderland Invitational, the Samford University volleyball team will next be in action Tuesday at 7 p.m. (CT) as the Bulldogs return home to Birmingham, Alabama, to square off against the Alabama Crimson Tide in a home match to be held at the Pete Hanna Center.
 
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Samford vs. Delaware State - - Box Score
Samford at UTEP - - Box Score
Updated Stats