Bulldogs Split Opening Round Matches At WKU Invite

Friday, September 10

Bowling Green, KY.

11 AM

Samford University

0-6,0-0SoCon

Western Kentucky

-70,00 CUSA

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Samford	14	24	18	0
Western Ky.	25	26	25	3

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Samford	25	25	18	32	3
UT Martin	19	15	25	30	1

Photo by: Chase Cochran | Samford Athletic

Bulldogs Split Opening Round Matches At WKU Invite

9.10.21 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 WKU Box Score (PDF)UTM Box Score (PDF)

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Samford University volleyball team split its opening round matches in the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Invitational on Friday, falling to WKU 3-0 before rallying to defeat UT-Martin 3-1. Lauren Deaton and Kenya McQuirter combined for 60 kills in the two matches.

BOX SCORE (PDF): #15 WKU
BOX SCORE (PDF): UT Martin

HOW IT HAPPENED: #15 WKU

In the early going of the first set the Bulldogs hung with the Hilltoppers shot for shot, after a kill from Kate Wonus tied the set at 5-5. Although the Dogs were able to keep the runs to a minimum, Western Kentucky opened a 20-12 lead eventually taking the set 25-14.

Senior outside hitter Lauren Deaton and redshirt-sophomore each recorded five kills as the Bulldogs had a strong showing in the second set overcoming a 14-10 deficit to lead the Hilltoppers 20-18. After a Western Kentucky timeout the teams played a back-and-forth set until WKU edged out the Dogs 26-24 to take a two-set lead.

In the final set, the Bulldogs hung tough through the early part of the frame with a kill from McQuirter pulling the Dogs within one (8-7). WKU continued to cling to a slim lead, as the Bulldogs' late push came too late with WKU sealing the match with a third set victory, 25-18.

FROM THE BOX SCORE

Kenya McQuirter continued her stellar play, recording 11 kills while finishing with a .450 hitting percentage.
Kayla Keshock tallied 28 assists to lead the Bulldogs.
Lauren Matthews paced the No. 15 Hilltoppers with 11 kills.
WKU edged Samford 27-24 in digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED: UT MARTIN

The Bulldogs raced out to a 2-0 set lead after claiming the opening frame, 25-19, and the second, 25-15.

Samford recorded 24 kills in the first two sets before UT-Martin rallied to win the third, 25-18. The Skyhawks edged the Bulldogs 15-13 in kills while Samford allowed just one attack error.

In the decisive fourth set, Samford and UT-Martin traded points for the entire set before the Bulldogs took control by the winning the three of the final four points of the match including back-to-back attack errors by the Skyhawks.

FROM THE BOX SCORE

Deaton closed out the match with a team-high 24 kills while McQuirter finished with 17.
Keshock totaled a game-high 46 assists.

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs are back in Diddle Arena tomorrow morning to face off against the Rebels of the University of Mississippi at 11 AM.

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