Nov. 24, 2001

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Samford University dropped its final two matches of the 2001 season at the Turkey Classic hosted by the University of Alabama Saturday morning.

Samford dropped its first match of the day in five games to Middle Tennessee 30-26, 20-30, 30-19, 25-30, 12-15 and then fell to Arkansas State 31-29, 30-18, 30-20 in the finale.

Angela Smith recorded a season-high 14 kills and a career-high 13 digs against Middle Tennessee before suffering an ankle injury in game four. She would return for the Arkansas State match and post nine kills and eight digs. Abby Miner recorded double-figure kills in both matches. She had 16 kills and a season-high 25 digs in the opener and 10 kills against ASU. Shellie Ouldhouse and Stefanie Pickett added 16 and 15 kills respectively against Middle Tennessee. Pickett tied the Samford season record for block assists with two on the day. She tied Melissa Karwowski's 1994 record of 112 block assists for a season.

Middle Tennessee was led by 21 kills from Erin Hillstrom and Shakeithia Deckard. Deckard added 22 digs to pace the Lady Raiders.

In the Arkansas State match, freshman Andrea Shanks recorded a season-high seven kills and posted a team-high .357 (7-2-14) hitting percentage. Arkansas State held an 11-4 edge in blocking and hit .337 (48-13-104) compared to Samford's .105 (36-25-105)

Arkansas State was led by Michal Evers 14 kills and a .722 (14-1-18) hitting percentage. Caitlyn Mitchell and Katie Silliman added 13 and 10 kills each for the Lady Indians

Samford ends the season with a 12-22 overall record the Bulldogs finished sixth in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Samford struggled in tournament play all season posting a 1-13 record in tournaments and were 0-10 on neutral courts during the season.

The Bulldogs will graduate Whitney Miller and Shellie Ouldhouse who each played the final games of their careers on Saturday. Eleven lettermen and four starters will return for the 2002 season.