MACON, Ga. – The Samford volleyball team defeated Mercer in five sets with a score of 3-2 (25-23, 16-25, 25-20, 13-25, 15-13) Saturday evening at Hawkins Arena.
 
With the win, Samford improves to 8-11 overall and 3-5 in Southern Conference play. Mercer's record is now 6-15 overall and 2-6 in league action.
 
Samford was led in the win by Ally Cordes with 22 kills and nine digs. Kaleigh Meritt also had 20 kills and nine digs for the Bulldogs. Shea Bruntmyer had 30 assists for Samford.
 
For Mercer, Sophia Henry had 21 kills and eight digs. Aubri Martin led the Bears in digs with 22.
 
Bulldogs and Bears traded points throughout the first set and kept it close until Meritt and Cordes connected on kills to give the Bulldogs the set, 25-23. In the second set, Mercer pulled ahead of the Bulldogs towards the middle, Samford couldn't find the momentum to get close, and the Bears took the set, 25-16.
 
Samford battled back in the third set, with Greer Golden's two service aces giving the Bulldogs a 11-7 lead towards the middle of the set. Eventually, the Bulldogs won the set with a kill from Cordes. The Bears took set four after opening with an early, 5-0 run after the Bulldogs scored 2 points in a row, 7-2. Bulldogs couldn't fight back from the deficit which gave the Bears the set, 25-13.
 
In the fifth and final set, it was tight late into it but a service ace from Cordes and a solo block from Janie Stinchcomb secured the set, 15-13 and match for the Bulldogs, 3-2.
 
Samford will return home to host Furman on Thursday, Oct. 23. For the Bulldogs Camp Night. The match is set for a 6:30 p.m. start from the Pete Hanna Center.
 
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