GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG volleyball team nearly completed a comeback from a 2-0 deficit against Southern Conference preseason favorite Samford Friday evening, but the Bulldogs held on for a 3-1 (26-24, 25-18, 18-25, 25-23) victory inside Fleming Gymnasium.

Samford improved to 11-7 overall and 5-0 in SoCon action while the Spartans dropped to 10-8 and 2-3.

Errors ultimately proved UNCG's downfall as the Spartans tallied more kills (57-48) than Samford and also out-dug the Bulldogs 64-49. Samford hit .281 in the match (48k/12e/128ta) while the Blue and Gold checked in at .235 (57k/25e/136ta). The visitors notched 10 aces to UNCG's six and won in the blocking column 9.0-7.0.

Sophomore setter Sara Hohman had quite a night, registering her 10^th double-double of the season with 46 assists and 10 digs. She also tacked on three service aces for good measure. Classmate and outside hitter Jessica Brezwyn also chipped in with a double-double performance, racking up 14 kills and 13 digs. Additionally, freshman outside hitter Ashley Muench and senior middle hitter Kelsey Sidney produced double figures in kills with 14 and 10 respectively. Defensively, junior libero Katherine Santiago was credited with 19 digs.

The teams battled to a 12-12 deadlock in the first set before three kills by Sidney ignited a 4-0 run that put UNCG ahead 16-12. Samford burned both of its timeouts but the Spartans were the first to 20 when Brezwyn put down a kill. Leading 20-17 and 23-20, the Blue and Gold looked poised to take the opening frame but the Bulldogs answered with three straight to tie the score. A kill by redshirt junior middle hitter Julia Westerbur put UNCG at set point, 24-23, but a blocking error and two attacking errors by the Spartans allowed Samford to steal the set by a 26-24 margin.

The Spartans could not find their footing early in the second stanza, falling behind 10-7. UNCG rallied to within 10-9, but a 6-3 run afforded the Bulldogs a 16-12 cushion. That was as close as the Spartans would come the rest of the way as UNCG fought off three set points before falling 25-18.

After the squads split the opening rallies of the third set, a kill by Brezwyn gave the Spartans a lead they would not relinquish. A block by Sidney and senior middle hitter Vicky Harley pushed the UNCG advantage to 13-8 and forced Samford to call for timeout. The Bulldogs drew within 18-15 on a kill by Michaela Reesor, but the Spartans secured three of the next four points to push in front 21-16. That would be enough for the Blue and Gold as a kill by Hohman sealed the third frame 25-18.

UNCG jumped out to a 6-3 advantage in the fourth set after a kill by Muench. The Spartans stayed ahead 12-9 before a 6-0 Samford run flipped the score in favor of the Bulldogs. UNCG trailed 17-14 before scoring five-straight points to assume a 19-17 edge. Samford was able to put together scores in six of the next eight rallies and seized a 23-21 lead but a service error and attacking error evened the score at 23. An attacking error by UNCG on an overpass put the Bulldogs at set point and another attacking miscue by the Spartans ended the set and match 25-23 in Samford's favor.

The Spartans are right back in action Saturday evening when they host The Citadel. First serve inside Fleming Gymnasium is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Follow the UNCG volleyball team all season by logging on to www.uncgspartans.com and following the Spartans' official Twitter accounts @UNCGVB and @uncgsports.