Volleyball EarnTwo Wins In Samford/Barber’s Classic

--- Bulldogs sweep ULM, UNC-Asheville ---

Sept. 16, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford volleyball team picked up wins three and four on the season today as they swept the Warhawks of Louisiana-Monroe and the Bulldogs of UNC-Asheville in three straight games on day two of the Samford/Barber’s Classic.

Samford first meet up with the Warhawks of Louisiana-Monroe.

Samford came out early with a huge lead in game one, but ULM would come back to close the gap to four. However, Samford took game one 30-26.

The Bulldogs ruled game two. Although the Warhawks closed the final lead to five, Samford kept control of the game and won it, 30-25.

The third and final game was almost a repeat of the second. Samford dominated game three, and although ULM kept the gap to five, the Bulldogs took the game, 30-25, and swept the Warhawks, 3=0.

Sophomore setter Jackie Jaszcz led the team with a hitting percentage of .400 and 26 assists. Freshman outside hitter Alyssa Trimpe led the team in kills with 12 and points with 13. Sophomore outside hitter Sara Sears followed right behind with nine digs and 10.5 points.

The Bulldogs out-blocked the Warhawks, ten to two, and out-hit them in all three games of the match.

In Samford’s second match, they took on the Bulldogs of UNC-Asheville. This was no dogfight as Samford swept UNC-Asheville in three straight games.

In game one, Samford played a close game with UNC-Asheville. The Asheville Bulldogs finally extended the lead to three at 18-15, but Samford came back to take the one-point lead, 21-20. UNC-Asheville tied the game at 25, 26, and 27, then took the lead at 28-27. Samford tied it at 18, then UNC-Asheville tied it at 29. Samford finally put game one away, 31-29.

Samford dominated game two leading by as much as eight and winning, 30-22.

In the third and final game, Samford took the early lead, but UNC-Asheville climbed back to lead it by two 9-7. Samford then took a two-point lead, but UNC-Asheville tied the game at 11. UNC-Asheville took a two-point lead before Samford tied it at 14. From that point on Samford charged ahead, leading by as much as four. The Samford Bulldogs took game three, 30-25, and chalked up their second sweep of the day.

Jaszcz led the team in the second match with a hitting percentage of .750 and 52 assists. Freshman right side hitter Sheridan Stangohr came in right behind with a .459 hitting percentage, 19 kills, and 20 points. Sears had 12 kills, 30 attempts, and 13.5 points. Freshman Sarah Gardner had 20 digs, and Trimpe had 11 kills, 14 digs, and 12 points.

“These were great wins for us,” said Head Coach Michelle Durban. “We played very well and our girls were very confident out there. This is the first building block in our process of being successful. We played well as a team and got things done.”

Samford sophomores Jackie Jaszcz and Sara Sears were named to the Samford/Barber’s Classic All-Tournament team. Joining them were Most Valuable Player Cori Dayton of Charlotte, Jessica Oldenburg of Charlotte, Ilima Sam Fond of Louisiana-Monroe, and Elif Unlu of UNC-Asheville.

In the first match of day two, Charlotte and UNC-Asheville went five games before the Charlotte finally took the match, 3-2. The game scores for that match are 30-22 (UNC-Asheville), 30-26 (Charlotte), 30-23 (Charlotte), 30-28 (UNC-Asheville), and 16-14 (Charlotte).

In the third match, Charlotte defeated Louisiana-Monroe in three straight games with scores of 30-15, 31-29, and 30-18.

Next the Bulldogs will play host Tuesday, Sept. 19, to Kennesaw State in Seibert Hall at 7 p.m.

*** SAMFORD BULLDOGS ***