Sept. 7, 2001

Stats

OXFORD, Miss. - The new rally scoring system is supposed to make volleyball more exciting and more competitive. Friday afternoon, Samford defeated Ole Miss in five games that were exciting and competitive as all five games were decided by two points. Samford came out on top for its first win of the season and notched its first ever victory against an SEC foe.

Whitney Miller led the Samford attack with 24 kills, Abby Miner added 20 kills and 10 digs for her first double-double if the season. Stefanie Pickett hit .385 with 12 kills on 26 swings and tallied eight blocks for the Bulldogs.

Samford (1-4) began the match strong forcing Ole Miss (0-4) to call a time out trailing 19-13. The Rebels battled back with a 9-3 run to tie the score at 22. From that point on neither team led by more than four points at any time in the match. Ole Miss won game 31-29 fighting off one game point for Samford at 29-28.

Games two, three, and four were each won by 30-28 scores with Samford taking games two and four to even the match at two games a piece. Game five was an endurance test with both teams looking for their first wins of the season.

Samford fell behind 3-0 but battled back to take an 8-7 lead and force an Ole Miss time out. The Bulldogs extended the lead to 12-10 when the Rebels called their final time out. The final six point of the match were scored on sideouts. With the score 14-13, Samford looked to be in trouble when setter Colleen Donivan and Miller mis-connected on a set. Miller reached and free balled the ball over the net and a stunned Ole Miss team watched the ball hit the floor for the final point.

Ole Miss out-hit, out blocked, and out dug the Bulldogs but Samford had two more aces and in the end two more points than the Rebels.

The Bulldogs will continue the Magnolia Invitational against Arkansas State Friday night. The match is scheduled for 5 p.m. but probably will not begin until around 6 p.m. due to the length of the matches being played.