Oct. 2, 2001

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford senior Shellie Ouldhouse had 16 kills to lead five Samford players in double-figures as the Bulldogs used a total team effort to defeat Mississippi State in four games at Seibert Hall Tuesday night.

The win was Samford's first ever victory over Mississippi State. The Bulldogs recorded their first ever win over an SEC school back on Sept. 7, when they defeated Ole Miss 3-2. Samford has now won three straight matches and four of its last five to improve to 5-8 on the season. Mississippi State drops to 6-6 on the year.

"This is huge for us," said Samford head coach and Mississippi State graduate Vickie Nichols. "This was a total team effort. That is the difference, everyone is carrying their weight and we do not have to rely on one person. Ashley Fulton was huge for us in game three, key blocking at the end, and five players in double figures is huge."

Ouldhouse, Abby Miner, Whitney Miller, Angela Smith, and Stefanie Pickett were all in double figures in kills for Samford. Miller and Miner each notched double-doubles. Miner finished with 15 kills, and 15 digs while Miller contributed 13 kills and 11 digs. Smith and Picket each had 10 kills.

Mississippi State was led by Misty Hubenthal with 17 kills, Hillary Chambers added 13 kills, and Jennifer Rousey recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 13 digs.

Neither team gained more than a three point advantage in the opening game. Tied at 27, Ouldhouse recorded her sixth kill of the game to give SU a lead. A MSU hitting error gave Samford game point at 29-27. After a MSU side out, Miner recorded a kill to give Samford the game 30-28.

Game two was another tight one as both teams sided out to 15-15. Mississippi State then went on an 11-5 run to pull away to a 26-21 lead. Samford battled back with four-straight points before Hubenthal recorded a kill to end the rally and MSU went on to even the match at a game a piece 30-27.

Mississippi State came out strong in game three using the jump serve of Dawn Steinhauser, who had five aces in the match to build a 5-1 lead. Samford countered by putting sophomore Ashley Fulton into the back row. Fulton who has battled a shoulder injury all season came in and gave Samford a defensive spark and SU fought back to 11-10. MSU managed to maintain a lead until Samford finally tied it at 22. Samford then used an 8-3 run to close the game on another kill by Miner to win 30-25.

Samford looked like it was going to run away with game four as it built a 10-3 lead, but Mississippi State would not go away. MSU responded with an 18-11 run to tie the game at 21. The visiting Bulldogs actually went ahead 25-23 but back-to-back blocks by Smith and Pickett gave Samford a 26-25 lead that it would not let go. Miller ended the match with a kill to give SU the 30-26 victory.

Samford out hit MSU .222-.139 and out dug the visitors 70-61. MSU had one more block and four more service aces but also four more service errors. Samford continues to play well on Tuesday night's. SU is 3-0 in Tuesday games.

Samford will be on the road this weekend as it returns to Atlantic Sun play. The Bulldogs will face Stetson on Friday and Jacksonville on Saturday.