GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team secured a straight-set victory over the Samford Bulldogs (25-19, 25-17, 25-21) on Friday night, earning its first win of the season in The Southern Conference (SoCon) in Greensboro, North Carolina, in Fleming Gymnasium.
 
Friday's victory over the Bulldogs marks the second consecutive year the Spartans have defeated Samford in Greensboro. However, it is the first time since 2021 UNCG claimed a straight-set victory over Samford. In addition, the last time UNCG started off 1-1 in SoCon play was in 2022.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 – The first game was a back-and-forth battle in the first half, seeing 10 ties and three lead changes. However, with Samford in control, 10-9, UNCG recorded two consecutive points, taking an 11-10 advantage. Despite the set tying three more times, UNCG never allowed Samford to regain the lead in the frame. The Blue & Gold closed out the frame with four unanswered points that included three kills from Allie Sweet and one kill from Robin Rosser to claim set one, 25-19.

Set 2 – After UNCG got on the board first in set two with a Samford service error, the Bulldogs bounced back with two-straight points for their only lead of the second set. The Spartans quickly responded with a 3-0 run, never allowing Samford to take the lead again in the second stanza. UNCG led Samford by as much as nine points on a few different occasions in set two. With the Spartans on top, 24-17, a set point attack error by the Bulldogs granted UNCG with the second game, 25-17.

Set 3 – Samford took a 3-2 lead over UNCG to begin the final frame, but that would be the last time the Bulldogs would lead in the match. A block assist from Connore' Siler-Nixon and Sweet, following a kill from McKenna Timmerman gave UNCG a one-point advantage, 4-3. Samford tied things up, 4-4, before the Spartans tallied four-straight points, 8-4. The Bulldogs came back later on to tie the match again at 14-14, but the Spartans stayed in control. A final block assist from Nixon and Gabby Seeds gave UNCG set three, 25-21, for the 3-0 win.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Sweet led the Spartans with 12 kills.
• Nixon led UNCG at the net with four total blocks.
• Timmerman registered her fourth career double-double and first of the season with 10 kills and 11 digs.
• Seeds was the leading setter for the Spartans with 27 assists.
• Chloe Nussbaum paced the match with 19 digs.

RECORDS
UNCG: 8-5, 1-1 SoCon
SAMFORD: 5-7, 0-1 SoCon

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UP NEXT
The Spartans will begin the SoCon road schedule next week at Chattanooga on Friday, Oct. 3 at 6:00 p.m. and conclude the weekend at Western Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 5:00 p.m. in Cullowhee, North Carolina.