Sept. 11, 2000

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford's middle blocking tandem of Whitney Miller and Shellie Ouldhouse combined for 29 kills as the Samford Bulldogs handed Birmingham-Southern its first loss of the season, 3-1, Monday night at Seibert Hall.

Samford (5-3) was led by Miller who recorded 19 kills on 39 swings for a .231 hitting percentage. Ouldhouse added 10 kills, mostly in games three and four, in 26 attacks for a .192 hitting percentage. Five Bulldogs recorded double-figure digs led by Miller's 16. Shaliece Hall and Colleen Donivan each had 12 digs and Ashley Fulton and Stefanie Pickett added 11 and 10 digs respectively.

Birmingham Southern (6-1) was facing its first division I opponent in Samford. The Panthers had won six straight matches against non-division I schools. Bailey Mixon led the Panthers with 15 kills and Danielle Graff added 10 kills.

Both teams came out sluggish in game one. BSC built a 10-6 lead but after a Samford timeout, the Bulldogs roared back to score the next nine points and take game one, 15-10. Game two was all BSC at the beginning as the Panthers jumped on top 7-0 and led 10-3. Samford scratched back to 13-10, but the Panthers held on to win 15-10 and evened the match at a game a piece.

Game three was closely contested the entire way. Neither team could take more than a three point lead. Samford went ahead 14-13, but the Panthers saved game point with a kill by Christa Duncan. A kill by Graff tied the score at 14, but Samford sided out on a kill by Miller. With Miller serving the Bulldogs forced BSC into back-to-back attack errors and took the pivotal game 16-14.

In game four, Ouldhouse came alive as she had four kills in the game and help Samford build a 9-3 advantage. BSC fought back by scoring the next five points to bring the score to 9-8, but Samford took the momentum back and reeled off the next six points including a service ace by Ouldhouse on match point to win 15-8.

Samford will travel to Florida State to play in the Lady Seminole Classic this weekend. The Bulldogs will face Florida State and Florida A&M on Firday and Notre Dame on Saturday.