Oct. 25, 2001

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford volleyball team is coming off an important five-game victory at Georgia State and will return home for a pair of non-conference matches this weekend.

The Bulldogs have won three matches in a row and have qualified for the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament by beating Georgia State and securing one of the top six spots in the conference. This weekend Samford has a chance to do something it hasn't done all season. Reach .500.

The Bulldogs began the season 1-7 but have since won nine of 14 matches to bring their overall record to 10-12. Samford's seniors have led the turn around. Whitney Miller is now second all-time in kills with 1,180. She has 323 kills this season, an average of 3.89 per game. Shellie Ouldhouse has 220 kills and 72 blocks. Ouldhouse is third on the all-time blocking list.

Blocking has been another reason for the Bulldogs' success. The team leads the Atlantic Sun averaging 2.42 blocks per game. Sophomore Stefanie Pickett is second in the conference in blocking with 89 (1.14 per game). Fellow sophomore Abby Miner has been in double-figures in both kills and digs in each of the Bulldogs last three victories.

Samford will face UNC Asheville (6-14) on Friday night at 7 p.m. UNCA is led offensively by Adrinne Moore who has 230 kills on the season, an average of 3.15 per game. Kelly Budnik is right behind her with 229 kills, a 3.14 average.

Winthrop University (16-9) will be in Seibert Hall on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. The early start is not to conflict with the Homecoming football game at 1 p.m. Winthrop is led by the school's all-time leader in kills and digs, Erin Lehman. Lehman has 326 kills and 330 digs on the season. Jennifer Pritchard has 333 kills and a .312 hitting percentage from the middle for the Lady Eagles. Winthrop will also feature former Central Alabama Community College standout Andrea Hatcher returning to her home state.

Samford is 3-4 all-time against UNC Asheville and Winthrop. The Bulldogs are 2-2 against UNCA with the last meeting coming in 1997. Winthrop holds a 2-1 edge after winning last season in Rock Hill, S.C.