GREENSBORO, N.C. –  The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team will begin the second half of The Southern Conference (SoCon) slate at Samford on Friday at Pete Hanna Center and Furman on Saturday in Alley Gymnasium. Friday's match against the Bulldogs will begin at 6:30 p.m. CST/7:30 p.m. EST, while the match against Furman on Saturday is set for a 7:00 p.m. EST first serve.
 

Who: at Samford When: Friday, Oct. 24 Where: Birmingham, Ala. | Pete Hanna Center Time: 6:30 PM CST | 7:30 PM EST Coverage: Live Stats | ESPN+ Tickets $5 each Social Media: Twitter/X: @UNCGVB | Instagram: @uncgvolleyball | Facebook: UNCG Spartan Women's Volleyball

Who: at Furman When: Saturday, Oct. 25 Where: Greenville, S.C. | Alley Gymnasium Time: 7:00 p.m.  Coverage: Live Stats Social Media: Twitter/X: @UNCGVB | Instagram: @uncgvolleyball | Facebook: UNCG Spartan Women's Volleyball

 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS

• UNCG split its matches last week with a straight-set victory over Wofford on Thursday in Spartanburg, South Carolina, but falling in a five-set thriller with ETSU in Fleming Gymnasium Saturday.
• The last time UNCG defeated Wofford was in 2021 as the Spartans earned both regular season meetings against the Terriers that year.
• UNCG and Chattanooga are currently the only two SoCon teams who have taken more than one set against the Bucs as ETSU is 9-0 in conference action.
• Gabby Seeds earned SoCon Setter of the Week this past Monday after notching 69 assists and an 8.63 assists per set average. Seeds added four service aces, 18 digs and 2.0 total blocks on the week.
• She posted her fourth double-double of the season and her career after leading the match against ETSU with 40 assists and adding 12 digs.
• Allie Sweet led the Spartans offensively with 32 kills, averaging 4.00 kills per set for a .241 hitting percentage. Sweet posted two double-doubles last week, marking 11 this season and 16 in her career.
• Chloe Nussbaum stood out defensively with 27 digs with a 3.38 digs per set average. Nussbaum posted a .938 reception average on the week.
   

ABOUT THE SPARTANS

• The Spartans come into the weekend with a 12-7 overall record and 5-3 mark in the SoCon.
• UNCG is in a three-way tie for third place in the SoCon standings with Wofford and Furman.
• The last time UNCG captured five SoCon wins was in the 2021 season as that squad went 12-4 in conference play.
• UNCG stands out in the top-50 nationally in three statistical categories: digs per set (30^th/16.03), digs (38^th/1,218) and opponent hitting percentage (47^th/.179). 
• The squad is pacing the SoCon in aces per set (1.66), digs per set (16.03), opponent hitting percentage (.179) and assists (906).
• Sweet is currently ranked in the top-25 nationally among seven statistical categories: attacks per set (2^nd/12.59), total attacks (4^th/957), total kills (9^th/334), points (10^th/381.0), points (10^th/381.0), points per set (22^nd/5.01) and kills per set (27^th/4.39).
• Sweet is leading the SoCon in attacks per set (12.59), kills per set (4.39), points (381.0), points per set (5.01), total attacks (957) and total kills (334).
• Nussbaum stands out nationally at 23^rd in total digs (352) and 30^th in digs per set (4.63).
• Seeds is 54^th in the country and second in the SoCon with a 9.65 assists per set average.
• Seeds reached the 1,000-career assist milestone in the team's reverse sweep win over UNC Asheville on Sept. 20 in Greensboro.
• The Spartans have collected five SoCon Player of the Week mentions this season: Seeds (Oct. 20), Siler-Nixon (Oct. 6), Sweet (Sept. 1 & Sept. 15) and Nussbaum (Sept. 1)
• The 2025 squad features 10 returners and six newcomers. Out of the six newcomers, four are transfer students and two are freshmen.
• UNCG was picked to finish the SoCon regular season in a tie for fifth place with Chattanooga.
• Sweet was selected to the SoCon Preseason All-Conference Team.
• Sweet's preseason nod comes after being named SoCon Freshman of the Year, while also being voted to the All-SoCon First Team and All-Freshman Team last season.

SCOUTING SAMFORD

• The Bulldogs sit in sixth place in the SoCon standings with an 8-11 overall record and 3-5 mark in the conference.
• Samford most recently earned back-to-back SoCon wins with a 3-0 sweep over The Citadel on Friday in Charleston and a 3-2 win over Mercer in Macon on Saturday.
• As a team, the Bulldogs are second in the conference in aces per set (1.65) and hitting percentage (.232).
• Kaleigh Merritt and Ally Cordes are pacing the team on the outside with 275 and 268 kills, respectively.
• Cordes leads the team with 185 digs and 26 aces this season.
• Shea Bruntmyer is the leading setter for Samford with 575 assists.
• Greer Golden is the best blocker on the team with 47.0 blocks on the 2025 campaign.
• The Bulldogs have collected four SoCon Player of the Week awards this season. Offensive: Meritt (Sept. 8) & Cordes (Oct. 20). Setter: Bruntmyer (Sept. 15 & 22).
• Samford was picked to finish second in the 2025 SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll with three votes for first place.
• Meritt was named to the SoCon Preseason All-Conference Team.
• Samford will host Furman on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. CST/7:30 p.m. EST before welcoming UNCG on Friday night.

SERIES HISTORY VS SAMFORD
The Bulldogs lead the Spartans in the all-time series at 24-11. UNCG defeated Samford in a straight-set victory in the first meeting this season on Sept. 26 in Greensboro.

SCOUTING FURMAN

• The Paladins come into the week with a 14-6 overall record and are 5-3 in conference play.
• Furman is pacing the conference with a 12.89 kills per set average.
• The 'Dins are second in the league in assists per set (11.95), opponent hitting percentage (.180), attacks per set (36.01), kills (967) and total blocks (178.0).
• Tennyson Gorman is 18^th nationally with 97 blocks and 49^th with a 1.29 blocks per set average.
• Gorman paces Furman with 195 kills and her 97 blocks.
• Kennedy Seekford leads the team with 291 digs.
• Emily Navarro is the leading setter on the squad with 429 assists.
• Ashtan Dodson is the best server on the team with 21 service aces.
• Furman has collected two SoCon Defensive Player of the Week awards this season with Gorman (Sept. 29) & Ashley Stein (Oct. 20).
• Furman was picked to finish fourth in the SoCon Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll with one first-place vote.
• Izzy Castelloe was named to the SoCon Preseason All-Conference Team.
• Furman will take on Samford Thursday night in Birmingham before hosting the Spartans.

SERIES HISTORY VS FURMAN
The Paladins lead in the overall series against the Spartans at 44-16. Furman earned the win in the two team's previous meeting this season, 3-1, in Greensboro on Sept. 25.

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UP NEXT
The Spartans will return home to host Western Carolina on Friday, Oct. 31 at 6:00 p.m. and Chattanooga on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 5:00 p.m. in Fleming Gymnasium.
 
Friday's match against the Catamounts is Halloween Theme and there will be postgame autographs! For Saturday's match against the Mocs, the first 60 UNCG students receive a FREE Krispy Kreme Doughnut! All regular season home matches are free admission!