Birmingham, Ala. – The Furman volleyball team opened a two-match series with the Samford Bulldogs on Sunday evening falling 3-0 (12-25, 13-25, 20-25) in SoCon action from the Pete Hanna Center.

Furman drops to 4-7 overall and 4-7 in the conference, while Samford improves to 10-1 on the season and 10-1 in league play.

Courtney Hoffman led the Paladins offensively with seven kills, while Sydney Tanner added five and three total blocks (two solo, one assisted). Katie Murphy dished out 19 assists. Maya Mrus and Andrea Aceveda contributed 10 digs apiece.

Lauren Deaton led all players with a game-high 13 kills for the Bulldogs, and Sierra Rayzor finished with eight and seven total blocks (one solo, six assisted). Corinne Meglic compiled 24 assists and Emily Naubert 11 digs.

Tanner and Mikaela Schultz gave Furman an early 2-1 lead in the first set when Schultz recorded a kill and Tanner a solo block. Samford followed with a 15-3 run and built a 16-5 lead after a bad set by the Paladins. Furman got as close as eight points twice after that with the last coming at 18-10 off a bad set. The Bulldogs closed out the set scoring seven of the final nine points to win 25-12 on a kill from Meglic.

The Paladins registered three of the first four points of the second set and took a 3-1 lead after Tanner's solo block. Samford came back with a 14-5 run and held a 15-8 advantage when Sarah Hayes Farley connected on a kill. Furman then scored four consecutive points, including kills from Hoffman and Natalie Dunn, to trail 15-11. The Paladins were limited to just two points the rest of the way. The Bulldogs captured the set 25-13 when Meglic and Rayzor combined for a block.

Furman used an 11-6 run to go ahead by five points to start the third set when Tanner and Hoffman combined for a block, forcing Samford into a timeout. After the Bulldogs rallied back to within one, 12-11, the Paladins came out of a timeout and received kills from Mrus and Kelsey Watkins to take a 14-11 lead. Samford responded with an 11-4 run and went in front 22-18 after a kill by Sinclaire Green. Watkins got Furman back to within two, 22-20, after her kill. The Bulldogs scored the final three points for the 25-20 win and 3-0 match victory.

The Paladins conclude their series with Samford on Monday evening at 7 p.m. EST.