Samford Gets Past Volleyball in SoCon Opener
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team took a 3-1 loss at Samford (25-22, 19-25, 17-25, 14-25) on Friday night to open up The 2023 Southern Conference (SoCon) campaign.
HOW IT HAPPENED
With the Spartans down by one early on in set one (3-4), Mallory Meers set a kill for Madeline Timmerman that would begin a 5-0 run for UNCG (8-4). UNCG maintained the lead for the remainder of the first set. Back-to-back kills from Jocelyn Carter, both assisted by Mya Wood, clinched set one for the Spartans, 25-22.
Set two started off just like the first with the Bulldogs and Spartans tying on several occasions. However, with UNCG up 8-6 in the second set, a kill from the Bulldogs’ Sophia Plasman started a 10-1 run for Samford (16-9). The Bulldogs maintained the lead for the rest of the second set. A 3-0 run that was ended by a block assist from Plasman and Greer Golden gave Samford set two, 25-19.
Samford’s Amelia Johnston put the Bulldogs up 1-0 with a service ace in set three for the Bulldogs to hold the advantage over the Spartans for the entire third set. Samford claimed the third set, 25-17.
The Bulldogs continued its momentum into the fourth set by starting things off with a 4-1 run. Samford earned the fourth and final set, 25-14.
BY THE NUMBERS
Carter led the Spartans on the day with 12 kills and posted a .375 hitting percentage.
Aylin Baran followed closely behind with nine kills.
Meers and Izora Gragg contributed as the setters with 28 assists collectively.
Wood stood out as the libero for UNCG with 16 digs. She leads UNCG with 138 on the season.
Daija Jackson led the squad with three total blocks to put her at 20.0 blocks on the season.
Records
UNCG: 1-11, 0-1, SoCon
Samford: 6-7, 1-0, SoCon
Up Next
UNCG will continue SoCon action on the road at Mercer on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m.
Courtesy of Emma White
Strategic Communications Coordinator
UNC Greensboro