BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford volleyball team continued its recent hot streak with a 3-1 (22-25, 25-15, 25-15, 25-19) win over Mercer Thursday evening in the Pete Hanna Center.
With the win, Samford improved to 10-5 overall and 4-1 in Southern Conference play. Mercer fell to 13-4 overall and 3-1 in league play.
"Mercer executed really well in the first set and the things we scouted we struggled taking away," Samford head coach
Keylor Chan said. "Then we made an adjustment and Gracie Lynn (Butler) really did a good job of changing that momentum and taking away the things we had scouted. Kudos to her and the team for really digging in and playing some really great defense tonight."
For Samford in the win,
Kaleigh Meritt led the way with 14 kills and 12 digs.
Gracie Lynn Butler tallied nine kills and seven digs.
Kate Morgan led the team in digs with 14.
Lexi Thatcher finished the match with 35 assists.
Mercer was led by Skye Ekes with 15 kills. MeMe Davis led the Bears with 18 digs.
In the first set, Samford jumped out to a 4-2 lead after a kill by
Greer Golden. Mercer fought back to take a 5-4 lead. With the set tied at 7-7, Samford scored four-straight points to take an 11-7 lead after a kill by Butler. Mercer came back to take the lead at 19-18. Mercer took the first set by a score of 25-22.
The Bulldogs jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the second set after a kill by
Ally Cordes. Samford pushed its lead to 15-3 following a kill by Meritt. The Bulldogs maintained the lead throughout the set, taking the second set by a score of 25-15.
In the third set, Samford raced out to a 7-2 lead after a Mercer attack error. The Bulldogs built their lead to 10 points at 16-6 following a kill by Butler. Samford took the third set, 25-15.
Mercer jumped out to a 12-8 lead in the fourth set. With Mercer leading, 13-11, Samford went on an 8-1 run to take a 19-14 lead following a kill by Golden. The Bears then scored the next three points to cut the lead to two points at 19-17. With Samford leading, 22-19, the Bulldogs scored the next three points to take the set, 25-19, and the match, 3-1.
The Bulldogs will host Furman Friday evening. The match is set for a 6:30 p.m. start from the Pete Hanna Center.
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