BIRMINGHAM, ALA. - After Samford evened the match at one set apiece, Appalachian State University volleyball won the third and fourth sets to defeat their Southern Conference divisional foe 3-1 Saturday evening in the Pete Hanna Center. With the win, the Black and Gold are now a stout 13-5 on the season and 4-1 in league action, while the Bulldogs fall to 8-12 overall and 2-4 in conference play.
The Mountaineers came out strong in first set play, as they grabbed the lead early on going up 5-3 off an Anna Wagner kill and never looked back.
Slams by Alison Blasingame and Caroline Sedon and a block assist by Sedon and Lauren Brown stretched ASU's lead out to five points.
The Bulldogs continued to battle and pulled back within one at the 20-19 mark, as Elizabeth Neisler paced the Samford offense.
Impressive blocking however kept Appalachian in front, and two final Samford errors gave ASU the 25-20 first set victory.
The defending SoCon North Division champions would not give up easily, as Samford took the early 9-7 advantage in the second set.
Offensive production by Samford's Katie Murphy and Neisler hindered the Apps who found themselves behind by five points, down 14-9.
A 5-0 Mountaineer streak propelled by Maggie Seeds and Wagner helped ASU creep back into the set, down by just one, making the score 20-19.
Samford was able to hang on however, despite Appalachian's solid play and the Bulldogs tied the match at one apiece, after earning the 25-19 second set victory.
Stepping up its game, Appalachian jumped out to a commanding 13-5 third set lead.
Kills by Blasingame, Wagner and Meghann Forshey enabled ASU to grab the eight-point advantage.
Blasingame was stellar against Samford, finishing the match with a season-best 13 kills and two block assists.
After a Forshey kill pushed Appalachian's lead out to eight points, up 18-10, Samford tried to muster a comeback, capitalizing on Appalachian miscues and cutting the Apps advantage to five points at 21-16.
Wagner led the squad in the waning points, as she tallied three kills and ASU won the third set.
Wagner also had a solid showing Saturday evening, totaling 12 kills, nine digs and four block assists.
Once fourth set action was knotted a seven apiece, a 3-0 Mountaineer run made the score 10-7 in Appalachian's favor.
It was once again Blasingame and Wagner leading the way for ASU.
Four Samford attack errors increased ASU's lead to five points, but eventual kills by Lauren Hutchinson and Neisler a few plays later saw Appalachian's lead diminish and the set tied at 20.
Neisler had 13 kills in the match for Samford, to go along with three digs, one solo block and one block assist.
Even though action was tied at 20, it was an SU service error that earned Appalachian the lead for good and a final Blasingame kill put the match away for ASU.
The 2010 campaign continues in earnest, as the Mountaineers head to Chattanooga, Tenn., Sunday, October 10 to battle the Lady Mocs. The match between the two teams is set to begin at 5 p.m.
