BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University volleyball team dropped a 3-1 (18-25, 25-18, 19-25, 17-25) decision to Auburn on the first day of the Alabama Showdown Thursday evening at Bartow Arena.
 
With the loss, Samford fell to 5-3 on the season. Auburn improved to 8-1 with the win.
 
Samford was led in the match by Kaleigh Meritt with 21 kills and seven digs. Ally Cordes had 10 kills and 14 digs. Gracie Lynn Butler and Kate Morgan shared the team lead in digs with 15 each. Lexi Thatcher accumulated 37 assists in the match.
 
For Auburn, Lauren Dreves had 15 kills and 16 digs to lead the Tigers. Madison Scheer also had 13 kills for Auburn.
 
In the first set, Auburn jumped out to a 4-2 lead. Samford closed to within one point at 8-7 on an Auburn attack error. The Tigers extended their lead to six points at 20-14. The Bulldogs could get no closer than five points the remainder of the set as Auburn took the first set, 25-18.
 
Samford never trailed in the second set. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 7-2 lead on a kill by Cordes. Auburn came back to tie the score at 10-10, but Samford scored the next three points to retake the lead at 13-10. After Auburn cut the lead to one at 17-16, Samford scored eight of the next 10 points to take the second set by a score of 25-18.
 
The teams went back-and-forth early in the second set. With the score tied at 9-9, Auburn scored the next four straight points to take a 13-9 lead. The Tigers led by as many as six points down the stretch and Auburn took the third set, 25-19.
 
In the fourth set, Samford took an early 5-3 lead on a service ace by Thatcher. Auburn came back to take a 12-9 lead, but Samford scored the next three points to knot the score at 12-12 on a kill by Meritt. With Auburn leading, 15-14, the Tigers went on a 7-0 run to push their lead to 22-14. The Tigers won the fourth set, 25-17 and the match, 3-1.
 
Samford will continue play in the Alabama Showdown by taking on South Alabama Friday at 4 p.m. at Bartow Arena.
 
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