BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Sophomore outside hitter Gracie Lynn Butler tallied 13 kills and 13 digs to help lead the Samford Volleyball team to a 3-0 victory over Jackson State on Saturday.
 
The performance marked Butler's first career-double-double and the first Bulldog to achieve double-double status this season. Kenya McQuirter (12) and Lauren Deaton (11) each also totaled double-digit kills, with Deaton finishing just two digs shy of a double-double at eight.
 
Kate Morgan posted double-digit digs for the second-straight game, finishing with 10 on the day. Kayla Keshock dished out 38 assists, to go along with five digs and four kills.
 
Andie Salasky recorded four of the Bulldog's seven service aces on the day while Kate Wonus compiled a team-high five block assists. Greer Golden added four block assists, four digs, and four kills.
 
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 9-5 lead in set one after a Wonus kill but would see their lead falter after the Lady Tigers came charging back to tie it at 16-all. After battling to a 22-22 score, the Bulldogs outscored JSU 3-1 over the final four points to claim set one.
 
After going up 9-8 in set two, Samford scored five unanswered points to take a 14-8 lead and eventually took a 17-10 lead. The Lady Tigers responded however by scoring the next seven points to tie set two at 17-all. McQuirter helped get the Bulldogs over the top late in the set with kills to put them up 20-19 and then 22-20 before eventually winning the set 25-22.
 
The Bulldogs and Lady Tigers battled back-and-forth in the third and final set. Samford was finally able to create a four-point cushion late after a Keyshock kill and JSU attack error put them up 18-14. A pair of kills by Butler and Deaton put Samford up 21-17, with McQuirter tallying the Bulldog's final two points on kills to clinch the match.
 
Saturday's win marked the first time this season that three Bulldogs posted 10 or more kills each, with Samford amassing 47 in total. The Bulldogs finished just three digs shy of their season high at 45.
 
The Bulldogs will be back in action for their third and final game of the UAB Open on Sunday, Sept. 4 against UAB at 2:00 p.m. (CST).




 
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