Volleyball Falls To Eastern Illinois, 3-0, On the Road

--- Bulldogs fall to 1-8 in conference play ---

Oct. 20, 2006

CHARLESTON, Ill. ---- The Samford volleyball team dropped their third straight game tonight to the Panthers of Eastern Illinois. The Bulldogs and Panthers are now both 1-8 in Ohio Valley Conference play.

Samford (6-17, 1-8 OVC) played EIU (6-14, 1-8 OVC) close early in the first game, eventually taking the lead on a service ace by freshman outside hitter Alyssa Trimpe. However, the Panthers tied the game at five, then took the lead on their own service ace by Lauren Schutte. The Bulldogs would tie the game twice after that, but they would not be able to catch the Panthers’ lead. Although they were able to close the EIU lead to three at one point, the Panthers would go on to win game one, 30-22.

Game two started out as a close game, each team tieing at every point and never leading by more than a point, before Samford tied it at 10 and took over on a kill by sophomore defensive specialist/setter Courtney Gay. The Bulldogs extended the lead to four on a service ace by sophomore outside hitter Sara Sears. Sears soon extended the lead to six on a kill, but the Panthers fought back to tie the game at 27. EIU took game two, 30-27.

The Bulldogs took over game three from the beginning, leading by as much as seven (12-5) early in the game. However, the Panthers raced back once again to get back in the game and soon close the Samford lead to two, 20-18. Samford fought to keep its lead, but Eastern Illinois was able to bring it to a tie at 24. The Bulldogs briefly lost their lead, but soon made the score 26-26 on a block by Trimpe and sophomore middle blocker Jen Powers. Trimple made a kill to get the lead back, and sophomore defensive specialist would extend that lead to two on a service ace. The Panthers would not give up, however, tieing the game once again at 29 and going on to win, 33-31.

Trimpe led the Bulldogs tonight in three categories with 12 kills, 13 digs, and 14 points. Gay tallied 22 assists and 10 digs, while Sears had six kills and 12 digs and sophomore middle blocker Powers had four block assists. The Bulldogs out-blocked the Panthers, 9-8.

Samford will continue its weekend road trip as it takes on Southeast Missouri tomorrow in Cape Giarardeau, Mo. Match play begins at 5 p.m.