JOHNSON CITY, Tenn.  – The Samford Volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision at SoCon foe ETSU on Saturday.
 
With the loss, the Bulldogs' record now sits at 13-11 overall and 8-4 in conference action. The Bucs improve to 17-7 overall and 11-1 in league play.
 
Gracie Lynn Butler and Lauren Deaton both logged a double-double, with Butler turning in a 17-kill, 12-dig day and Deaton compiling a 14-kill, 12-dig effort. Kenya McQuirter also totaled double-digit kills, finishing the day with 16.
 
Kate Morgan posted a game-high 23 digs while Kate Wonus registered a team-high four block assists. Kayla Keshock distributed a team-high 27 assists while Samantha Horn added 19.
 
In set one, ETSU used a pair 4-0 runs to go up 12-9 and then 16-11. The Bulldogs eventually fought back to trim their deficit to 23-22, but the Bucs pulled away with two of the next three points to take the first set, 25-23.
 
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 6-2 lead in set two, but the Bucs battled back to tie the match at 13-all. From there, Samford and ETSU stayed with a point of each other all the way to 25. The Bucs eventually got the two-consecutive points needed to take set two, 27-25.
 
Samford turned things around in set three, rattling off a 3-0 run and a 4-0 run midway through to take a 15-10 lead. The Bulldogs took a 23-15 lead following a kill from Deaton and held off a late charge from the Bucs to clinch the set, 25-20.
 
ETSU claimed stake to a 5-2 lead to start set four and took full control of the match's momentum with an 8-0 run to go up 15-4. From there, the Bucs used the separation created to guide them to a 25-14 set-four win to clinch the match.  
 
"Tonight against ETSU we opened some doors to succeed in sets one and two and failed to execute and it cost us," Head Coach Keylor Chan said. "I was pleased with our level of play in set three and thought that momentum could take us into a fifth. Unfortunately, we didn't carry that forward. Hopefully we learned some lessons and can use them later in the year."
 
The Bulldogs will return home for their final two regular-season matches at the Pete Hanna Center next weekend, beginning with Nov. 4 contest with Furman at 7:00 p.m. (CT).
 
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