Volleyball Takes Second-Straight SoCon Tournament Title With Thrilling 3-2 Win Over ETSU

Sunday, November 24

Spartanburg, S.C.

1:00 PM (CT)

Samford University

24-5,13-1SoCon

ETSU

25-6,14-2SoCon

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
ETSU	23	22	25	25	8	2
Samford	25	25	23	17	15	3

2019 Samford Volleyball team with SoCon Tournament Trophy

The Samford volleyball team won its second-straight SoCon Tournament title with a 3-2 win over ETSU Sunday.

Volleyball Takes Second-Straight SoCon Tournament Title With Thrilling 3-2 Win Over ETSU

11.24.19 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

BOX SCORE (PDF)

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The top-seeded Samford volleyball team earned its second-straight Southern Conference Tournament title with a 3-2 (25-23, 25-22, 23-25, 17-25, 15-8) win over second-seeded ETSU Sunday afternoon at Richardson Indoor Stadium.

With the win, Samford earns the SoCon's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs (24-5) will learn their opponent for the first round of the NCAA Tournament when the bracket is released next Sunday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m. (CT) on ESPNU. This is Samford's fifth SoCon Tournament title since joining the league in 2008. ETSU finishes with a record of 25-6.

Samford's Kelsi Hobbs was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. She was joined on the All-Tournament team by teammates Lauren Deaton and Sierra Rayzor.

SAMFORD 3, ETSU 2

KEY MOMENTS

In the first set, ETSU jumped out to a 9-4 lead.
Samford, however, fought back to take a 10-9 lead.
The set was tight down the stretch, and with the score tied at 23-23, Samford scored the final two points to take the set, 25-23.
ETSU led 5-2 early in the second set.
With the Bucs leading, 14-11, Samford went on an 8-2 run to take a 19-16 advantage.
Samford controlled the rest of the set, finishing with a 25-22 win.
In the third set, Samford jumped out to an early 6-3 lead.
ETSU answered with a 7-2 run to take a 10-8 lead.
Samford fought back to knot the score at 17-17.
Down the stretch, ETSU was able to pull out the 25-23 set victory.
In the fourth set, ETSU took a 6-3 lead.
Samford fought back to tie the score at 10-10.
The Bucs took a 16-13 advantage.
ETSU extended its lead to 20-15, and eventually took the set by a score of 25-17.
Samford led from start to finish in the fifth set, jumping out to a 10-1 lead.
ETSU scored the next six points to cut the lead to 10-7.
Samford closed the set by scoring five of the final six points to take the 15-8 set win and the 3-2 match victory.

FROM THE BOX SCORE

Hobbs led Samford with a career-high 26 kills, to go along with 12 digs.
Deaton had 20 kills and 14 digs.
Rayzor tallied 14 kills for the Bulldogs.
Emily Naubert led the team in digs with 24 in the match.
Corinne Meglic had 62 assists in the contest.

NEXT UP

Samford will find out its opponent for the first round of the NCAA Tournament next Sunday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m. (CT) when the selection show airs on ESPNU.

All-Tournament Team
Nicole Mack, Furman
Brittany Major, Mercer
Sara Esposito, ETSU
Kaela Massey, ETSU
Lauren Deaton, Samford
Kelsi Hobbs, Samford
Sierra Rayzor, Samford

Most Outstanding Player
Kelsi Hobbs, Samford

Pinnacle Award Recipient (highest cumulative GPA among championship-eligible student-athletes on winning team)
Sierra Rayzor, Samford