BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford volleyball team picked up a 3-1 (25-21, 25-23, 23-25, 25-13) win over Furman Friday evening in the Pete Hanna Center for the Bulldogs' fifth-straight victory.
 
With the win, Samford improved its record to 11-5 overall and 5-1 in Southern Conference play. Furman fell to 7-6 overall and 1-1 in league play.
 
"Furman really played some great floor defense and got balls up that you rarely see get up, and not just one, it was like 15 or 20," Samford head coach Keylor Chan said. "I give them a lot of credit for really making us play what we call long-rally discipline. They caught us and they made it a really hard match for us. I'm proud that we stuck through it and found a way, but we definitely have to work on bettering the ball and doing some of the things we've talked about with the team. But, overall, it was a great weekend. It's hard to complain, winning four in a row at home."
 
For Samford in the win, Kaleigh Meritt led three players that posted double-doubles with 13 kills and 18 digs. Gracie Lynn Butler had 12 kills and 11 digs for the Bulldogs. Ally Cordes tallied 11 kills and 11 digs on the night. Lexi Thatcher had 40 assists in the win.
 
Furman was led by Chandler Parker with 13 kills. Kennedy Seekford accumulated 21 digs for the Paladins.
 
In the first set, Samford took an early 4-2 lead after a kill by Butler. Furman, however, went on a 5-0 run to take a 7-4 lead. Samford fought back to take a 13-12 lead following a kill by Meritt. After Furman took a 15-13 lead, Samford went on a 9-3 run to take a 22-18 lead. The Bulldogs took the first set, 25-21.
 
The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 7-4 lead in the second set off a Furman ball handling error. The Paladins, however, answered with a 5-0 run to take a 9-7 lead. With Furman leading, 12-9, Samford went on a 6-1 run to take a 15-13 lead after a Furman ball handling error. With Samford leading, 21-17, Furman scored three straight to cut the lead to 21-20. Furman tied the score at 23-23, but block assists by Kate Wonus and Meritt, followed by a service ace by Meritt gave Samford the 25-23 set win.
 
Samford started the third set with a 6-1 lead after a service ace by Kate Morgan. Furman fought back to take a 16-14 lead. With Furman leading, 18-16, Samford scored three-straight points to take a 19-18 lead after a service ace by Thatcher. The teams went back and forth the rest of the set, but Furman pulled out the set win, 25-23.
 
In the fourth set, Samford raced out to a 9-1 lead following a service ace by Meritt. Furman cut the lead to seven points at 13-6. Samford stretched its lead to double digits at 22-12 following a kill by Greer Golden. The Bulldogs took the fourth set by a score of 25-13 and the match, 3-1.
 
The Bulldogs will next play at The Citadel on Friday, Oct. 18. The match is set for a 5 p.m. (CT) start from Charleston, S.C.




 
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