Sept. 1, 2000

Box Score

ROCK HILL, S.C. - The Samford University Bulldogs fought off six match points in game four and then took game five 16-14 to defeat East Carolina University in the first game of the Micro-tel/Winthrop Invitational at the Winthrop Coliseum on Friday afternoon.

Samford was forced to play from behind the entire match. The Bulldogs trailed in game one 14-10 before scoring the final six points to win 16-14. East Carolina then used the powerful hitting of LuCinda Mason, who led all players with 26 kills, to take games two and three 15-10 and 15-9 and then take a 14-11 lead in game four. But the Bulldogs would not die. Samford tied game four at 14-14 all, then fell behind again 15-14, before rallying to win 18-16. Game five was no different. ECU led 11-9 in rally scoring before Samford tied it at 11. The Dogs then took a 13-11 led before ECU tied the game at 13. Solid passing allowed the teams to alternate points and with Samford leading 15-14 a strong serve by Stefanie Pickett forced the Pirates in to a hitting error which gave Samford the win.

"It took heart to win that match," said Samford head coach Vickie Nichols. "We say that confidence empowers you, and that is what happened. We saw that we could come back we had the confidence to come back and I am very proud of this team."

Shellie Ouldhouse had 18 kills and Whitney Miller added 14 kills in the match to lead the Bulldogs. Ashley Fulton made her collegiate debut by adding nine kills and Abby Miner had seven kills in just two games of action.

Samford will play tournament host Winthrop University at 11 a.m. ET and then play Bethune-Cookman College at 1:30 p.m. East Carolina will return to action tonight at 7 p.m. against Bethune-Cookman before facing Winthrop at 4 p.m. tomorrow.