BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UNCG built a lead over Samford late in all three sets Saturday afternoon but the Bulldogs rallied each time to record a 3-0 (25-22, 28-26, 29-27) victory inside the Pete Hanna Center.

Samford (7-5, 2-0) hit an even .200 in the match and limited the Spartans to .176 efficiency. The Bulldogs also finished with the upper hand in kills (40-38), aces (11-6) and digs (46-42) while UNCG (10-7, 0-2) doubled up the home team in total blocks 8.0 to 4.0.

Junior outside hitter Jessica Brezwyn tallied her second double-double in as many matches with 10 kills and 10 digs. Sophomore outside Ashley Muench led all players with 14 kills and also hit .229. Defensively, senior libero Katherine Santiago racked up a match-high 12 digs while senior middle hitter Julia Westerbur notched five blocks. Erin Bognar and Emily Meitz led Samford with 11 kills apiece.

A kill by T.J. Russell put the Bulldogs ahead 13-9 in set one but UNCG scored six of the next seven points to edge in front 15-14 and force a Samford timeout. A kill by junior outside hitter Alexis Mourier pushed the Spartan advantage to 19-16 as UNCG looked to assert control. However, the Blue and Gold saw the Bulldogs put together a 7-1 run and take a 23-20 lead. That would be enough for Samford as it captured the first stanza by three.

The teams battled back and forth early in the second frame before an attacking error put UNCG in front 12-9. The Bulldogs scrambled for a timeout when the Spartan lead grew to 15-11 but UNCG rebuffed Samford's efforts and scored three more points to pull in front 18-11. The Spartans could not hold off the Bulldogs though as the home side ended the set on a 17-8 run to win the stanza and take a 2-0 lead into the intermission.

Samford led for much of the third set but an attacking error late in the frame gave UNCG a 21-19 advantage. A pair of Spartan errors allowed the Bulldogs to tie the score at 21 before Samford outlasted the Blue and Gold 29-27 to clinch the match.

UNCG returns to the court Wednesday in a 6 p.m. match at ETSU. The contest will be the seventh in a row away from Greensboro and the third straight on the road to begin Southern Conference play.