Championship Final Photo Gallery
Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.— Samford (29-4, 13-3) swept the College of Charleston (25-10,14-2) in the 2011 Southern Conference Volleyball Championship in Pete Hanna Arena on the campus of Samford University.
This is second consecutive year, the Cougars have been swept in the championship match. Last year, College of Charleston fell to Georgia Southern.
Samford opened up the championship match Sunday evening leading the College of Charleston by as many as 10 points. The Bulldogs opened on a 2-0 run, before the Cougars answered back tying the set at two. Samford led College of Charleston by as many as 10 points, before the Cougars went on a 3-0 run initiated by a kill from Kerstin Koehler.
Two kills from Sloane White started a rally for the Cougars, but it wasn’t enough as Samford’s Elizabeth Neisler closed the set, 25-19.
In the second set, Samford jumped out to a 15-7 lead before the Cougars started to battle back going on a short 2-0 run before a kill from Lauren Hutchinson silenced them. College of Charleston tried to rally back, from their 10 point deficit, but their rally fell short as Samford took a two-set lead heading into the break, winning the second set, 25-15.
Samford held the Cougars to a .130 hitting percentage in the second set.
The third set opened with both teams exchanging points, before Samford ran away with the set taking a 16-7 lead. Chelsi Carter recorded three service aces for the Bulldogs. College of Charleston tried to make a comeback, but fell short as the Bulldogs swept the Cougars, taking set three, 25- 17.
White paced the Cougars with 15 kills while libero Emily Shelton recorded seven digs. Andi Zbojniewicz and Lizzie Theesfeld each had six kills. Kallie McKown dished out 25 assists for College of Charleston.
Neisler tallied 13 kills for Samford, while libero and tournament MVP Lexi Bauer recorded a match-high 12 digs. Setter Casey Garvey dished out a match-high 36 assists in the match.
Samford held the Cougars to a .176 hitting percentage, while the Bulldogs hit .405.
Samford earns the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Volleyball Tournament. The Bulldogs will find out who they play November 27 at 6:00 p.m. EST on ESPNU. The opening rounds, which start on December 1 and 2, will be on selected campus sites.
2011 Southern Conference Volleyball All-Tournament Team
Natalie Braun, Furman
Maggie Seeds, Appalachian State
Sloane White, College of Charleston
Sarah Havel, College of Charleston
Lexi Bauer, Samford
Elizabeth Neisler, Samford
Katie Murphy, Samford
2011 Southern Conference Volleyball Tournament MVP
Lexi Bauer, Samford