--- Bulldogs’ fight not enough to even the series ---
Oct. 27, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford volleyball team ended its home stint Friday with a three-game loss to Tennessee Tech. The Bulldogs fall to 6-20 overall, 1-11 in Ohio Valley Conference play.
Samford (6-20, 1-11 OVC) played Tennessee Tech (9-14, 6-5 OVC) close in the first game, with the score tied at every point until the Bulldogs took the lead on a service ace by outside hitter Sara Sears. Samford pushed the lead out to three, but after a Tennessee Tech timeout, the Golden Eagles came back to tie the game at 15 on a service ace by Libero Katie Kenline. The Golden Eagles went on a 15-5 run, and won game one, 30-20.
In game two, Tennessee Tech jumped out to an early four-point lead, before Samford got on the board on a kill by middle blocker Kirstein Sosnowski. The Bulldogs fought to keep the lead tight, but the Golden Eagles drove out to 11. Samford charged back to bring the gap to three on kills by Sosnowski and a service ace by defensive specialist Sarah Gardner. Tennessee Tech would extend the lead once more to six, before the Bulldogs closed it back to four. The Golden Eagles, however, would take game two, 30-26.
In the third and final game, Samford and Tennessee Tech fought for the early lead. With the game tied at five, the Bulldogs pulled ahead on kills by outside hitters Alyssa Trimpe and Sara Sears. However, it would not take long for the Golden Eagles to tie up the game at eight and take over. TTU lead by three before Samford tied the game at 13 with a kill by Sosnowski and then again at 14 with a kill by Sears, but the Golden Eagles would not give up the lead. The Bulldogs fought hard to get ahead again, getting within one point of tieing TTU. However, Tennessee Tech would push the lead out to five, taking the game, 30-25.
Leading the Bulldogs tonight in hitting was Sosnowski with a .550 percentage, hitting .727 in the second game alone. She also contributed 12 kills and 13 points, while Sears posted led in both of those categories with 16 kills and 18 points. Middle blocker Angela Dempski hit .400, adding three block assists, and Gardner posted three service aces and nine digs. Defensive specialist/setter Courtney Gay had 37 assists.
“I was very happy with the way Kirstein (Sosnowski) came out and played, and once Angela (Dempski) was put in, I felt like her energy gave us a spark,” Samford head coach Michelle Durban said. “We are still trying to get this young team to understand that everyone has to be involved and everyone has to have that same intensity.”
Next, the Bulldogs head out on the road for their last two road games of the season. Samford will take on Murray State Friday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m., and UT Martin Saturday, Nov. 4, at 2 p.m. The Bulldogs will then return home for their home finale against Southeast Missouri and Eastern Illinois.
*** SAMFORD BULLDOGS ***
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