GAME 1 BOX SCORE (PDF)

GAME 2 BOX SCORE (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford volleyball team opened the 2018 season with a pair of wins in the Courtyard by Marriott Samford Invitational Friday at the Pete Hanna Center. The Bulldogs earned a 3-0 win over McNeese State, and followed that up with a 3-1 win over Loyola-Chicago.


 
SAMFORD 3, MCNEESE STATE 0
 
KEY MOMENTS

• The teams traded points through most of the first set with neither team able to build more than a two-point lead.
• Samford was able to get some separation when the Bulldogs went on a 6-2 run to take a 21-16 lead on a kill by Lauren Deaton.
• After McNeese cut the lead to four at 22-18, Samford scored three of the final four points to take the match, 25-19.
• The second set was tight throughout, with neither team able to separate.
• With the match tied at 20-20, Samford tallied the next two points to take a 22-20 lead.
• Samford pulled away at the end to secure the 25-21 win.
• In the third set, Samford jumped out to a 10-2 lead and never looked back.
• McNeese State cut the lead to five points at 19-14.
• With Samford leading, 20-15, the Bulldogs scored five of the last seven points to take the 25-17 victory.

 
FROM THE BOX SCORE

• Lauren Deaton led Samford with 16 kills, while Kelsi Hobbs tallied 11 kills.
• Taylor Anderton accumulated 37 assists in the win.
• Hobbs and Grace Tiesman contributed 10 digs apiece for the Bulldogs.

 
SAMFORD 3, LOYOLA-CHICAGO 1
 
KEY MOMENTS

• The first set was close early.
• With Samford down, 17-16, the Bulldogs closed the set with a 9-4 run to come away with the 25-21 win.
• In set two Loyola jumped out to a 7-1 lead, but Samford came back with a 7-0 run of its own to take an 8-7 lead.
• Loyola took over again with a 13-5 run to take a 20-13 lead.
• Samford fought back to knot the score at 22-22, but Loyola scored three of the last four points to earn the 25-23 win.
• In the third set, Samford got off to a hot start, jumping out to a 10-4 lead.
• Loyola fought back to tie the match at 24-24, and then took a 25-24 lead.
• The teams went back and forth for the next few points before Samford pulled out the 28-26 victory.
• Samford began the fourth set hot as well, jumping out to an 11-4 lead.
• Loyola came back to cut the lead to two at 15-13.
• Samford extended its lead again, pulling out to a 23-15 lead.
• The Bulldogs came away with the 25-17 victory in set four, and the 3-1 match win.

 
FROM THE BOX SCORE

• Krista Boesing led the Bulldogs with 19 kills, followed by 17 from Kelsi Hobbs.
• Taylor Anderton tallied 52 assists.
• Grace Tiesman led the team in digs with 19.

 
QUOTING COACH CHAN
"Our biggest goal today was to see where we are at, and to be tested. We showed some resilience and some toughness, which I like, and we executed. We executed at a good level for our first day."
 
NEXT UP
Samford will wrap up play in the Courtyard by Marriott Samford Invitational by taking on Kennesaw State Saturday. The match is set for a 3 p.m. start and admission is FREE.