KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Samford volleyball team earned a comeback 3-2 (18-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-23, 15-13) win against Winthrop in Knoxville, TN Thursday afternoon.
 
With the win, Samford continues the early season with a 2-1 record. This match against Winthrop, was the first for the Bulldogs in the Tennessee Invitational hosted by The Volunteers.
 
Samford was led in the win by Kaleigh Meritt with 32 kills and 15 digs, Meritt tied her career high in kills during this match. Ally Cordes tallied 16 kills and 4 digs, while Shea Bruntmyer had great showing with 46 assists in the win.
 
For Winthrop, Avery Jolly had 13 kills and 14 digs.
 
Samford fought hard in the beginning but dropped the first two sets to Winthrop. Bulldogs scored first in the third set with a kill by Cordes assisted by Bruntmyer. The match was close until the end as Bulldogs and Winthrop traded points throughout until an ace from Sophia Plasman put the Bulldogs up 24-22 and then a kill by Cordes sealed the third set for the Bulldogs at 25-23.
 
In set four, Winthrop built an early 16-10 lead over Samford but after a kill by Meritt, Bulldogs started to get into a scoring flow. With Winthrop ahead, 19-13, Bulldogs went on a 9-1 run to take a 21-19 advantage. Winthrop came back to tie the score at 23-23, but the Bulldogs won the next two points to take the set with a service ace from Meritt.
  
In the fifth and deciding set, the teams traded points through most of the set. Samford was able to separate for an 8-5 lead on an service ace from Brooklyn Drumwright. After Winthrop cut the lead to 11-11, Samford scored the next two points and won the set on a service error by Winthrop, 15-13 and the match, 3-2.
 
The Bulldogs will continue in the Tennessee Invitational tomorrow as they face the host, Tennessee Volunteers at 12 p.m. in Knoxville, TN. The match will be streamed on SECN+.