CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Samford volleyball team took the final three sets to earn a 3-2 (25-18, 22-25, 20-25, 25-23, 15-12) win over Western Carolina Saturday evening at the Ramsey Center.
 
With the win, Samford improved to 13-13 overall and 8-6 in Southern Conference play. Western Carolina fell to 9-16 overall and 6-8 in SoCon play.
 
For Samford in the win, Ally Cordes and Kaleigh Meritt had 15 kills each. Gracie Lynn Butler had 11 kills, while Greer Golden had 10. Kate Morgan led the team in digs with 20, while Kayla Keshock tallied 28 assists.
 
Western Carolina was led by Bailey Hartsough with 15 kills and 12 digs. Ali Morris contributed 12 kills for the Catamounts.
 
In the first set, the teams traded points early until Samford took a 16-13 lead on a kill by Cordes. After Western Carolina cut the lead to 18-17, Samford scored seven of the next eight points to take the 25-18 win. Western Carolina took the next two sets, 25-22 and 25-20 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
The fourth set was close throughout. With Samford trailing, 21-20, the Bulldogs went on a 5-2 run to take the set, 25-23 and force a fifth set. In the fifth set, Samford fell behind early, 5-2, but came back to take a 12-9 lead on a kill by Meritt. Samford took the fifth set, 15-12, to win the match, 3-2.
 
Samford will next play at Chattanooga on Friday, Nov. 10. The match is set for a 5 p.m. (CT) start from Chattanooga, Tenn.
 
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