Box Score October 24, 2009
Wofford vs. Samford Box Score
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Terrier volleyball team lost a heartbreaking five-set match (18-25, 28-26, 26-24, 19-25, 13-15) to defending North Division champion Samford on Saturday.
Samford jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first set by capitalizing on several Wofford miscues. Although the Terriers narrowed the lead to one point at 4-5, Wofford was not able to overcome the deficit, falling in the first set by a score of 25-18.
The second set saw 10 ties and three lead changes as the teams battled for every point. Neither team claimed more than a two point lead until the Terriers rallied behind strong serving from freshman Reagan Styles to take a 17-12 advantage. The Bulldogs scratched their way back, fighting off two set points to tie the score at 24, but the Terriers hung on to take the 28-26 win, tying the match at one set a piece.
In the third set, Wofford took the early lead and managed to maintain a small lead until the Bulldogs tied the score at 13 and again at 14. The Terriers fought to regain the lead, however, and extended their lead to 20-16 before the Bulldogs stopped the run. Samford proceeded to tally a 5-1 run to tie the score at 21.
A Bulldog kill put the score at 23-22, forcing a Terrier timeout, but a service error from Samford after the break tied the score again at 23. A Terrier attack error gave the Bulldogs set point at 24-23, but junior Stacy Byrd notched a kill to tie the score again at 24. Two straight service aces from senior Shanna Hughes sealed the 26-24 win for the Terriers, giving Wofford a 2-1 set advantage in the match.
Samford controlled the fourth set, taking an early 10-4 advantage, and not allowing the Terriers back into the game, claiming a 25-19 win to force a fifth and deciding set.
In the fifth set, the Bulldogs again controlled the first part of the set, jumping out to a 4-1 lead and holding an 8-4 lead at the side switch. The Terriers did not give up, fighting to narrow the Bulldogs’ lead to a single point at 13-14. On match point, a Wofford error gave Samford the 15-13 win, allowing the Bulldogs to escape Spartanburg with a narrow win.
Senior Sheriden Stangohr led the Bulldogs with 21 kills and added four total blocks. Sophomore Rachel Gadberry added 11 kills and led the team with a .625 attack percentage, committing only one error on 16 attempts. Freshman outside hitter Allie Bettinger tallied a double-double with 17 kills and 19 digs, while setter Hillary Fountain also claimed the honor with 47 assists and 18 digs. Libero Alexis Bauer contributed 18 defensive saves in the winning effort.
The Terriers were led by junior Catelyn Amende’s 12 kills and .321 attack percentage. Amende also recorded a career-high nine blocks, helping the Terriers to a total of 11 team blocks. Senior Shanna Hughes also had a career night, with her 16 digs putting her over the 1,000 dig mark for her career. Hughes becomes the seventh player in program history to tally over 1,000 digs. Libero Sarah Palmer led the Wofford defense with 18 digs, while freshman Reagan Styles and junior Stacy Byrd each added 14.
With the win, Samford improves to 14-10 overall and 8-2 in the Southern Conference while Wofford falls to 16-9 on the season and 3-6 in league play. The Terriers will take on Chattanooga on Sunday in a 2:00 p.m. matchup.
