BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UNCG dropped the opening set 25-18 to Samford and was never able to gain any traction as the Spartans fell to the Bulldogs, 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-15), on Friday night in Southern Conference action.
The Spartans (10-11, 2-3 SoCon) were led by Ariel Newman and Karrian Chambers who each had six kills apiece. Ari Lysacek added 19 assists and six digs and Kellie Orewiler had eight digs of her own.
Katie Murphy paced the Bulldogs (16-3, 3-2 SoCon) with 12 kills without recording an error for a .571 hitting percentage. Elizabeth Neisler had 11 kills, as well, while Casey Garvey had a match-high 35 assists.
The Spartans kept things close in the opening set and narrowly trailed 13-12 midway through the set. The Bulldogs then used an 11-3 run to have set point at 24-15. UNCG held off three set points, but Samford eventually got a block from Neisler and Lauren Hutchinson to win the set, 25-18.
The second set was very similar as the two sides traded points in the early going and UNCG trailed 15-14 after a kill from Newman. This time Samford answered with three-straight points en route to taking the set, 25-20, to lead 2-0 at intermission.
Samford led wire-to-wire in the final set as it jumped out to an early 10-5 lead. The Bulldogs would extend their lead out to 17-8, forcing a UNCG timeout, before winning the set, 25-15.
The Spartans will continue their weekend road swing on Saturday as they travel to Chattanooga for a 7 p.m. contest.
AGATE
Samford def. UNCG 25-18, 25-20, 25-15
UNCG (10-11 (2-3 SoCon)) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Karrian Chambers 6-0-0; Ariel Newman 6-1-0; Morgan Freeman 5-2-1; Holland Hoefnagel 3-0-2; Kelsey Sidney 3-0-0; Ari Lysacek 2-0-0; Kellie Orewiler 0-1-0; Totals 25-4-2.0. (Assists) - Ari Lysacek 19. (Dig leaders) - Kellie Orewiler 8; Ariel Newman 6
Samford (16-3 (3-2 SoCon)) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Katie Murphy 12-0-2; Elizabeth Neisler 11-1-1; Lauren Hutchinson 9-0-3; Chelsi Carter 7-0-0; Michaela Reesor 5-0-1; Casey Garvey 1-2-1; Alexis Bauer 0-1-0; Totals 45-4-5.0. (Assists) - Casey Garvey 35. (Dig leaders) - Chelsi Carter 12; Alexis Bauer 11
Site: Birmingham, Ala. (Pete Hanna Center)
Date: Oct 07, 2011 Attend: 212 Time: 1:13
Referees: Pat Martin, Danny Humbers
- UNCG -
