Samford Volleyball Fall To Murray On The Road

--- Bulldogs wrap up final road trip Saturday against UT Martin ---

Nov. 3, 2006

MURRAY, Ky. ---- The Samford volleyball team dropped its first match of its last road trip Friday night to the Racers of Murray State. The Bulldogs fell to the Racers in three straight games, making this their third straight loss to an opponent in three games.

Samford (6-21, 1-12 OVC) played Murray State (17-6, 9-4 OVC) close in the first game keeping the score tied at the first three points on kills by Katie Luckman, Jen Powers, and Sara Sears. The Bulldogs finally took the lead on a kill by sophomore middle blocker Kirstein Sosnowski, and then a Racer error extended the Samford lead to two (6-4). However, Murray State would come back to tie the score at eight and take over the game. The Bulldogs tried to keep the gap within two, but the Racers would drive it out to eight, and eventually thirteen. Murray State won game one, 30-17.

In game two, the Racers took the first point but Samford quickly caught up on a kill by outside hitter Sears and a bad set on Racer setter Cassie Chesney. Again, the Bulldogs tried to stay within two point of Murray State, but Racers would not let the gap widen. Murray State extended the lead to seven, then 12, and would go on the win the game, 30-14.

Murray State took the early lead in game three and took a quick nine point lead. The Bulldogs would then close the gap to six on a kill by defensive specialist/setter Courtney Gay and back-to-back kills by Sears. However, the Racers would not give up control of the game, going on to win the game and match, 30-22.

Leading the Bulldogs was Gay, posting 21 assists and 18 digs. Sears added nine digs, while Luckman had 14 digs and defensive specialist Sara Gardner had 11 digs. The Bulldogs out-blocked the Racers, 5-3.

Samford will take on the Skyhawks of Tennessee-Martin in Martin, Tenn., tomorrow at 2 p.m. This will cap off the final road trip for the Bulldogs. They will then return home to face Southeast Missouri and Eastern Illinois.

*** SAMFORD BULLDOGS ***