Volleyball to Open 2006 Season at Magic/Music City Invite

--- Samford will meet Belmont and Lipscomb in the tournament ---

Aug. 24, 2005

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University volleyball team opens the 2006 campaign across town Saturday in the Magic/Music City Classic hosted by Birmingham-Southern College. The Bulldogs will play a match against the Bruins of Belmont University, and another against the Bisons of Lipscomb University in the tournament.

Samford has been working hard this preseason to build on the foundation that was laid last season.

“We’ve really been working on more team-oriented drills and trying to make sure everybody is more comfortable on the court together,” Samford head coach Michelle Durban said. “We’ve done a good job of continuing to improve this preseason, and our team is ready to play.

“Something we are shooting for on Saturday is having the measuring stick of Belmont and Lipscomb to see where we fit in,” said Durban.

Samford enters the season with three newcomers added to a team that finished 9-21 last season, and is led by two sophomore captains.

“Jen Powers (Lisle, Ill.) and Sara Sears (Fairhope, Ala.) are captains this year,” Durban said. “They have done a good job so far, and the team has set their goals accordingly. Hopefully, we will continue to improve upon the goals they have set up for themselves, as a team and individually.”

Samford will face Belmont in Bill Battle Coliseum on the campus of Birmingham-Southern at noon on Saturday. Then the Bulldogs will play Lipscomb at 6 p.m.
Samford has met up with Belmont each of the past nine seasons, and the Bulldogs hold the lead in an 11-2 series. Last season marked the first time the Samford Bulldogs and the Lipscomb Bisons met up. Samford leads that series, 1-0.

Samford's first home match is scheduled for Sept. 6, when the Bulldogs will play host to Chattanooga. The match is set to begin at 6 p.m., in Seibert Hall.

--- SAMFORD BULLDOGS ---