BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford volleyball team wrapped up play this weekend with their third match in as many days as they took on UAB. The Bulldogs played their best game to finish the weekend as they swept the Blazers in three sets (25-15,25-10,25-20) to take their record to 5-6 on the season.

Samford dominated the opening set of the match, jumping out to a 13-3 lead and never looking back. The Dogs hit .294 in the set and held the visitors to just .111. Samford had 15 kills in the first to just nine for UAB. The Bulldogs had a balanced attack offensively, as four different players finished with double-figures kills, led by Kaleigh Meritt with 15 on the night. 

The second set started out tight, but the home side used a 5-0 scoring run to take a 9-7 lead and never trailed again as they pulled away to win the set by five points, 25-20. Ally Cordes was second on the team in kills as she finished with 13, while Greer Golden and Sydney Waller each finished with 10.

It never felt like the Bulldogs would be threatened with a UAB comeback in the third set as Samford got up 6-3, which forced an early Blazer timeout, and the Dogs never trailed again in the set. Samford hit .357 in the match as a team, led by Golden, who hit .600 and Meritt, who hit .448. The Bulldogs had eight blocks on the night and held UAB to a .240 hitting percentage.

Cordes and Amelia Johnston led Samford with 15 and 14 digs respectively, while Shea Bruntmyer finished with 45 assists. 

Up next, the Bulldogs enter conference play as they hit the road to face UNCG and Furman next weekend. They will take on the Spartans on Friday night and the Paladins on Saturday afternoon.

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