EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Samford University volleyball team earned a pair of wins on the first day of the Dunn Hospitality Tournament, Friday at the Meeks Family Fieldhouse. Samford defeated Miami of Ohio, 3-2 (25-13, 25-21, 20-25, 15-25, 15-12) and then defeated the host team Evansville by a score of 3-1 (25-16, 21-25, 25-20, 25-13).
 
With the wins, Samford is now 4-0 on the young season. Miami falls to 3-1 with its loss, while Evansville is now 1-4 on the season.
 
In the Miami of Ohio match, Samford was led by Kaleigh Meritt with 21 kills and eight digs. Ally Cordes had 13 kills and 10 digs, while Gracie Lynn Butler tallied 13 kills and eight digs. Kate Morgan led the team with 12 digs, while Lexi Thatcher paced the team in assists with 48.
 
In the first set of the Miami match, Samford jumped out to an 8-3 lead on an attack error by Miami. Samford extended its lead to 16-6 on a kill by Cordes. With Samford leading, 21-12, the Bulldogs scored four of the next five points to take the 25-13 set win.
 
The teams went back-and-forth throughout most of the second set. Miami was able to secure a 19-15 lead. Samford, however, scored eight-straight points for a 23-19 lead on a service ace by Greer Golden. Samford took the second set, 25-21.
 
In the third set, Miami jumped out to a 15-10 lead. The Redhawks took an eight-point lead at 24-16, and they took the third set by a score of 25-10.
 
Samford fell behind, 20-13 in the fourth set. Miami earned the win in the fourth set by a score of 25-15.
 
In the fifth and deciding set, after Miami took an early 3-1 lead, Samford scored the next four points to take a 5-3 lead on a kill by Thatcher. Miami fought back to take an 11-6 lead. Samford scored the next four points to cut the lead to 11-10. After Miami pushed its lead to 12-10, Samford scored the final five points to take the set, 15-12 and the match, three sets to two.
 
Against Evansville, Samford was led by Butler with 19 kills and 11 digs. Meritt tallied 16 kills and 11 digs, while Cordes had 12 kills and a team-high 14 digs. Thatcher had 48 assists in the win.
 
In the first set against Evansville, after falling behind, 9-7, Samford went on an 8-1 run to take a 15-10 lead on a kill by Cordes. The Bulldogs extended their lead to as many as nine points and Samford took the first set, 25-16.
 
Evansville started fast in the second set, building a 15-9 lead. Samford fought back to cut the lead to 21-20, but Evansville eventually took the second set, 25-21.
 
In the third set, Samford took an early 10-5 lead. After Evansville cut the lead to 15-14, Samford went on a 9-1 run to take a 24-15 lead. The Bulldogs won the third set, 25-20.
 
Samford led from start to finish in the fourth set. The Bulldogs led by as many as 12 points as Samford won the fourth set, 25-13, to take the match, three sets to one.
 
Samford will wrap up play in the Dunn Hospitality Tournament by taking on Chicago State Saturday at 11 a.m.
 
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