Volleyball Falls at Georgia

Friday, September 8

Athens, Ga.

5:00 PM

Samford University

4-5,0-0SoCon

Georgia

7-2,0-0SEC

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Samford	14	14	21	0
Georgia	25	25	25	3

9.8.23 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

ATHENS, Ga. – The Samford Volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision at Georgia on the final day of the Bulldog Classic on Friday evening.

With the loss, Samford's record slips to 4-5 while Georgia improves to 7-2.

Gracie Lynn Butler led the Bulldogs with nine kills while Kaleigh Meritt posted a .353 hitting percentage to go with eight kills. Greer Golden added four kills and a team-high three block assists while Lexi Thatcher distributed a team-high 27 assists.

On defense, Kate Morgan logged 11 digs while Thatcher delivered six digs and Annabelle Straty notched four.

A Meritt kill in the first set trimmed Samford's deficit to 6-4, but Georgia took control of the set with a 7-0 run that gave them a 13-4 lead. The visiting Bulldogs used a late 4-0 run to cut into Georgia's lead, but it would be too little too late as the home Bulldogs later claimed the set 25-14.

In set two, Georgia created separation with a 4-0 run that gave them an 11-6 advantage. The home Bulldogs later used a 3-0 run and a 4-0 run to go up 23-11 before eventually taking the set, 25-14.

Samford continued to fight in set three, with a kill by Sophia Plasman bringing them within one point at 12-11. A kill by Meritt tied the match at 13, but the home Bulldogs rattled off a 3-0 run to take a 16-13 lead. With the score reading 19-17 in favor of Georgia, the home Bulldogs pulled off a timely 3-0 run to go up 22-17 before clinching the match with a 25-21 set-three win.

"Georgia is a very good team, is well coached, and understands how to perform at a high level," Head Coach Keylor Chan said. "We need to learn to organize ourselves quicker to have a better jumping off point. In set three we found that and opened some opportunities. We will learn and move forward to some much needed training and UAB."

Samford Volleyball will be back in action on Wednesday, Sept. 13 when they host UAB at 7:00 p.m. from the Pete Hanna Center.

FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS:
For the latest news and information on Samford Volleyball, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at @SamfordSports (Facebook), @SamfordVB (Instagram), and @SamfordVB (Twitter).