Monday, September 11, 2006

Samford Splits Games On Day Two Of Jaguar Classic

--- Bulldogs fall to South Alabama, defeat Southeastern Louisiana ---

Sept. 9, 2006

USA Box Score
SLU Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford volleyball team wrapped up play at the Jaguar Classic today dropping their first match to host team South Alabama, 3-1, but taking third place by defeating the Lady Lions of Southeastern Louisiana University, 3-1.

In their first match against South Alabama, Samford fought through four hard games to take away a win, but came up short.

The Bulldogs came out strong, keeping the first game close before pulling out to a five point lead. The Jaguars tied the game at 14 and then pulled ahead. Samford never let South Alabama get ahead by more than two points, until later in the game when the Jaguars took a four point lead, 26-22. Samford fought hard, but could not take the lead and dropped game one, 24-30.

In game two, the Bulldogs took an early four point lead. The Jaguars tried to close the gap, but Samford would not give it up. South Alabama finally closed the gap and tied the game at 20, but Samford kept it a close game, before taking the lead 24-22. The Jaguars tied it twice more at 24 and 27, before taking a one point lead. Samford tied the game at 30, but could not put it away. The Bulldogs dropped game two, 32-30.

Samford took and early 2-0 lead in game three, but the Jaguars fought back to take the lead back by four. After getting down by as much as six, the Bulldogs roared back to keep the game within two. With Samford at 23 and South Alabama at 26, the Bulldogs charged back on a 7-2 run to win the game, 30-28.

The Bulldogs dominated the fourth game with an eight point lead most of the game. The Jaguars battled back to close the Samford lead within one, and soon took the lead at 29-26. South Alabama took the final game, 30-27, and the match 3-1.

Sophomore middle blocker Kirstein Sosnowski led the Bulldogs with 17 kills and a .389 hitting percentage, and red-shirt freshman defensive specialist Sarah Gardner led the team in digs with 29, just nine shy of an individual Samford record. Sophomore Jackie Jaszcz followed right behind with 59 assists and 18 digs. Freshman outside hitter Alyssa Trimpe chalked up 12 kills and 13 digs.

In their second match, the Bulldogs took on the Lady Lions of Southeastern Louisana University.

Samford came out to a seven point lead in the first game. SLU tried to close the gap but their efforts did not work. The Bulldogs led by as much as 14, and put this one away, 30-21.

The Bulldogs jump out with another big lead in game two, but the Lady Lions soon closed the lead to two and then tied the game at 18. Samford took bad control of the game and won it, 30-27.

Game three was close, one team getting a point, and then the other. SLU took a three point lead late in the game, 22-19, but Samford came back to tie it at 26. However, they would not be able to keep the Lady Lions from taking game three, 30-26.

The fourth game was close early, but Samford soon climbed to a seven point lead with a score of 12-5. The Bulldogs extended that lead to 11 at 25-14, and went on to win it, 30-19.

Stangohr was named to the Jaguar Classic All-Tournament Team, her second all-tournament team honor in a row. She led the team in the second game with a hitting percentage of .346 and the 13 kills. Sosnowski had 12 kills and a percentage of .292, and Trimpe posted eight kills and 15 digs. Jaszcz had 40 assists. Sarah Gardner led the team again in digs with 25.

Samford will be back in action Tuesday, Sept. 12, as they take on cross-town rival Birmingham-Southern in Bill Battle Coliseum on the BSC campus. Samford will be back at home on Sept. 15 as they host the Samford Barber’s Classic where they will welcome Louisiana-Monroe, Charlotte, and UNC-Asheville to campus.

*** SAMFORD BULLDOGS ***

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