CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Samford volleyball team earned a 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-20) win at Western Carolina Thursday evening at the Ramsey Center.
 
With the win, Samford improved its record to 13-8 overall and 7-4 in Southern Conference play. Western Carolina dropped its record to 7-15 overall and 1-8 in league play.
 
For Samford in the win, Kaleigh Meritt had 17 kills and seven digs. Gracie Lynn Butler followed with 12 kills, while Lexi Thatcher led the team in both digs with 14 and assists with 35.
 
Western Carolina was led by Ali Morris with 13 kills. Halley Tang had a team-high 13 digs for the Catamounts.
 
In the first set, Samford jumped out to an early 5-2 lead on a kill by Butler. The Bulldogs built a nine-point lead at 19-10 after a Western Carolina attack error. Western Carolina cut the lead to five at 20-15, but the Catamounts could get no closer as Samford took the first set, 25-18.
 
Western Carolina took an early 8-4 lead in the second set. With Western Carolina leading, 18-12, Samford went on a 9-3 run to tie the score at 21-21 after a kill by Butler. With the set tied at 22-22, Samford scored the next three points to win the set, 25-22.
 
In the third set, the Catamounts took an early 5-3 lead. Samford fought back to tie the score at 6-6. Samford took a 14-12 lead on a Catamount attack error, and the Bulldogs built a four-point lead at 17-13. After WCU came back to tie the score at 17-17, Samford scored the next four points to take a 21-17 lead. Samford took the third set, 25-20, and the match, 3-0.
 
Samford will next play at ETSU Friday evening. The match is set for a 5 p.m. (CT) start from Johnson City, Tenn.
 
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