Samford Drops Close Tournament Match To DePaul :: Bulldogs wrestles with Blue Demons in five games

Sept. 7, 2007

CHICAGO, Ill. ---- The Samford volleyball team lost its first match in the DePaul Invitational Friday night to the host team DePaul. The Bulldogs took the Blue Demons to five games before falling, 3-2 (30-24, 26-30, 30-22, 28-30, 10-15).

DePaul scored the first point in game one, but Samford did not let that faze them as they quickly jumped into the lead, sparked by a block by sophomore middle blocker Sheriden Stangohr and freshman setter Hillary Fountain. Although the Blue Demons tied it several times, the Bulldogs never relinquished their advantage, leading by as much as 11at one point in the game. DePaul closed the gap to five, but senior middle blocker Angela Dempski would score a kill and lead the Bulldogs to a six-point victory in game one.

The second game was a similar start to game one, with the Blue Demons scoring first but the Bulldogs eventually taking the lead by three. DePaul kept it close and soon took the lead, but Samford never let their opponent go ahead by more than three. The Bulldogs got as close as a point away but DePaul took game two, 30-26.

Junior outside hitter Sara Sears scored the first point in game three for Samford on a kill set by Fountain. DePaul answered back, but the Bulldogs charged ahead taking a four-point lead on kills by Sears, junior middle blocker Kirstein Sosnowski, and a service ace by sophomore defensive specialist Sarah Gardner. The Blue Demons fought back to tie it and take over, but with the help of Dempski, Stangohr and Sears, the Bulldogs would soon get back on top and lead by as but as four. With the score at 24-19, Samford would go on a 6-2 run, spurred on kills by Sears and freshman outside hitter Samantha Bland, and then with a kill by Fountain, the Bulldogs captured game three, 30-22.

In game four, the Bulldogs quickly fell behind and soon were able to tie it up at nine and ten. However, DePaul forged ahead, but with Samford hot on its heels. The Blue Demons never got ahead by more than four points, and although the Bulldogs were able to tie the game one more time, DePaul would win the fourth game, 30-28.

In the final game of the match, Samford came out and scored three straight points on kills by Sears and Stangohr and a DePaul error to take the early lead. The Bulldogs kept the lead until DePaul fought back to tie it at seven. The Blue Demons scored the next point, and after a court switch, it was DePaul that went on a 7-3 run to win, 15-10.

Sears grabbed her first double-double of the season, raking in 17 kills and 18 digs, while adding three service aces and two block assists. Stangohr led the Bulldogs in hitting again with a .400 percentage and posting nine kills, two blocks solo and two block assists. Bland was fell just short of her third double-double, grabbing 11 kills and nine digs, while getting one assist, one service ace, and one block assist.

Junior Libero Courtney Gay posted 27 digs, while defensive specialist Gardner snatched nine digs, two service aces and one assist. Setter Fountain posted her first double-double of the season, tallying 51 assists and 13 digs, while getting one block assist and two kills. Dempski had 10 kills, two digs, two block assists and one block solo while Sosnowski posted nine digs and one assist as she hit .318.

The Bulldogs continue action in the DePaul Invitational Saturday as they take on South Alabama at 10 a.m. and Kennesaw State at 5 p.m.