SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The No. 3 Wofford volleyball team is set to take on the No. 6 Samford Bulldogs on Friday, November 21, at 7:30 p.m. in the Southern Conference Tournament Quarterfinals. The Terriers claimed a victory against the Bulldogs in both matchups this season.
 
Matchup Information:
Opponent: No. 6 Samford Bulldogs (13-14, 8-8)
Location: Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville, North Carolina
Date/Time: Friday, November 21, at 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast: ESPN+ - https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/75ca78f6-e426-44cb-b2a8-3ed928db598e
Live Stats: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=625044&confid=socon
Tournament Information: https://soconsports.com/wvb/
Tickets: https://www.harrahscherokeecenterasheville.com/events/2025-ingles-southern-conference-volleyball-tournament-thursday/
 
Series at a Glance:
Overall Meetings: 36^th, Samford leads 22-13
Last Meeting: 11/1/25 – W, 3-0 (H)
In the SoCon Tournament: 5^th, Tied 2-2
Last Meeting:11/19/23 – W, 3-1 (H, SoCon Championship)
 
Postseason Awards
The 2025 Southern Conference postseason awards were released on Wednesday afternoon, and Wofford had four players selected – the most in a single season in program history. Laney Klika claimed her second-straight Libero of the Year award, and Bradley Brown became the first sophomore in the program since 2017 to be named All-SoCon First Team. Chloe Smith and Annemarie Rakoski joined Klika on the second team.
 
Terriers in the Tourney
Wofford will enter the 2025 Southern Conference Tournament as the No. 3 seed and will take on No. 6 Samford on Friday evening. The Terriers are looking to take home their third-straight SoCon Championship trophy after winning in both 2023 and 2024. The last time Wofford faced Samford in the tournament was in the 2023 title game where the Terriers won 3-1. During head coach Lynze Roos' tenure, Wofford is 10-8 in the tournament and has won six matches in a row.

Lockdown Defense
Wofford has been one of the best defensive teams in the SoCon this season. The Terriers are holding teams to a .175 hitting percentage this year, good for 34^th in the nation and third in the conference. Wofford averages 15.52 digs per set as well, ranking them 55^th in the nation. Led by Annemarie Rakoski and Bradley Brown, the Terriers pace the SoCon with 2.41 blocks per set, which is 66^th in the nation.
 
Scouting the Bulldogs
Samford is led by a pair of Bulldogs that made the All-SoCon Teams on Wednesday afternoon. Kaleigh Meritt received first team honors after leading the team with 380 kills on a .226 hitting percentage. Meritt also finished second on the team with 259 digs. Ally Cordes made an appearance on the second team, totaling 362 kills at a .223 clip. Cordes also tallied 243 digs and 37 blocks. Sydney Waller made the SoCon All-Freshman Team.
 
The quarterfinal matchup on Friday is set for 7:30 p.m. at Harrah's Cherokee Center in Asheville, North Carolina, between No.3 Wofford and No. 6 Samford. The winner will take on either No. 2 Furman or No. 7 Mercer on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. The championship is slated for Sunday at 4:00 p.m.