--- Bulldogs can’t get past Panthers ---
Nov. 11, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford volleyball team closed out the 2006 campaign Saturday as they honored senior Callaway Logan and took on the Panthers of Eastern Illinois. Samford fell to Eastern Illinois in a close five-game match as the Panthers took three out of five from the Bulldogs.
Samford (6-24, 1-15 OVC) dominated the first two games. The Bulldogs came out hard in the first game, taking an early six point lead with kills by middle blockers Angela Dempski and Jen Powers and outside hitter Sara Sears. Outside hitter Katie Luckman added a service ace. Eastern Illinois (8-19, 3-13 OVC) tried to close the gap several times, but was only able to get within three points. Samford would extend the lead out to nine and go on to win, 30-21.
Game two was almost a replay of game one, but it was Eastern Illinois that would take the early lead. Samford would not let them have it for long, as the game was tied on an EIU error and the Bulldogs took over with a kill by right side hitter Sheridan Stangohr. The Bulldogs lead by as much as 12 at one point, and eventually took game two, 30-21.
After the break, Eastern Illinois regrouped and came out with a ready to play. The Panthers jumped out with the lead, putting the first three points on the board. However, Samford answered back to tied the game on a service ace by defensive specialist Sarah Gardner. Eastern Illinois would not give up the lead, putting five more points on the board before Samford tied it again and took the lead. Three straight kills by Sears put the Bulldogs on top, along with a kill by Dempski to take the two-point lead. The Panthers kept the game close never letting the Bulldogs get ahead by more the three. With the score tied at 29, Samford served for match point, but two EIU kills and a service ace would put the Panthers back in the match with a 31-29 win.
After the game three win, the momentum shifted in favor of the Panthers. Eastern Illinois came out with the early six-point lead and never looked back. Samford was able to trim the EIU lead to five several times on kills by Sears and outside hitter Alyssa Trimpe, but the Panthers would push the lead out to 12 and go on to win, 30-18.
In the fifth and final game, the Panthers went on a 8-1 run to take the early seven-point lead. Samford could not keep up with Eastern Illinois, and the Panthers would take the match in the fifth game with a score of 15-7.
“Today, especially in games one and two, I felt like the team did a nice job,” Samford head coach Michelle Durban said. “We competed hard today. What we talked to the team about after the match was over was that we have to remember this match as a starting point for our spring, and be able to change those little things and listen and do one little thing differently every time we are out there. That will give us the opportunity to win the match, and then next year, when we do have the full compliment of players to be able to do that.”
Sears led the Bulldogs, matching her career-high kills record with 25 kills. She also added two service aces and 13 digs, while tallying 27 points for Samford. Trimpe followed right behind grabbing a double-double with 12 kills and a team high 18 digs. Defensive specialist/setter Courtney Gay tagged a career-high 43 assists, while adding 12 digs to the Bulldogs stats. Two more Bulldogs joined the double-digits-digs club, as Gardner posted 15 digs and Luckman nabbed 12. Stangohr led Samford in blocks with two block solos and 2 block assists. Dempski added three blocks to the teams eight on the day.
“Sara Sears played well today,” said Durban. “That’s what we’ve been waiting for all year. It’s been great to see Sara progressing this last month. This season I really have felt like she is really starting to get it. That’s really good to see coming from a sophomore going into her junior year. We are hoping that that will continue, and if that happens, our future is very bright for next year.”
*** SAMFORD BULLDOGS ***
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