MOBILE, Ala. – The Samford Volleyball team fought hard but ultimately fell 3-1 to No. 24-ranked Auburn University on Saturday afternoon.
With the loss, the Bulldogs drop to 5-7 on the year while the Tigers improve to 10-1.
Gracie Lynn Butler (14) and Kaleigh Meritt (13) combined for 27 of the Bulldogs' 45 kills, with Butler adding 11 digs for her third double-double of the season.
Lexi Thatcher accounted for a team-high 40 assists while Greer Golden and Kayla Keshock posted three block assists each. Kate Morgan led the Bulldogs' defensive efforts with 13 digs on the day.
The Bulldogs held their own in set one, with the score reading 10-8 in favor of the Tigers following a Meritt kill. Auburn responded by taking five of the next six points to go up 15-9 but Samford battled back to trim the Tiger's lead to 20-18. Auburn put the set away by rattling off a 4-0 run from there to get to set point and eventually claim it 25-19.
Block assists by Kate Wonus and Kayla Keshock gave the Bulldogs an 8-5 lead in set two. The Tigers fought back to tie the set at 13, but Samford scored the next four points unanswered to take a 17-13 lead. The Bulldogs created more separation after a pair of Thatcher aces upped their advantage to 20-15 before they eventually took the set, 25-20.
The third set saw Samford fight from behind to the tie score at 16 following an ace from Greer Golden. From there, the Bulldogs outscored the Tigers 6-2 to take a 22-18 lead but Auburn answered by scoring six straight to go up 24-22. The Bulldogs evened the set at 24, but the Tigers claimed the set's final two points to win it 26-24.
The Tigers jumped out to an 8-3 lead in set four and saw that grow into an 18-8 advantage after a 4-0 run later. Auburn, who hit .542 in the fourth set, outscored Samford 7-2 from there to take the set 25-11 and clinch the match.
"This was a good step for us as Auburn is a top 25 team," Head Coach Keylor Chan said. "We showed we have the ability to compete at that level. Now we must use this experience and get back in the gym to improve."
The Bulldogs will turn their attention to Southern Conference play their next time out when they host UNC Greensboro on Friday, Sept. 22. First serve from the Pete Hanna Center is slated for 7:00 p.m. (CST).
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