Birmingham, Ala. – Kenya McQuirter had a match high 17 kills on Friday evening to lead the Samford Bulldogs to a 3-1 (27-25, 12-25, 22-25, 20-25) victory over the Furman Paladins in Southern Conference volleyball action at the Pete Hanna Center.

Furman drops to 6-17 on the season and 2-11 in conference play. With the win, Samford improves to 14-11 overall and 9-4 in the league.

Morgan Cobb paced the Paladins offensively with a career high 15 kills on .281 hitting while Kelsey Watkins provided a season best nine after hitting .375. Lauren Haynes contributed 14 digs and seven kills. Sarah Turner (18) and Ella Abraham (16) combined for 34 assists. Mary Beth Headley registered 15 digs.

Andrea Aceveda concluded the match leading all players with 16 digs and moved past Carrie Rowley (1999-02) into fourth place all-time at Furman with 1,512. The senior from Brentwood, Tenn. sits six digs away from passing Barbara Emener (1988-90) into third place.

McQuirter hit .250 throughout the match for the Bulldogs while Gracie Lynn Butler registered a double-double of 12 kills and 11 digs. Kayla Keshock (18) and Sarah Hayes Farley (15) combined for 33 assists. Defensively, Lauren Deaton led the team with 14 digs while Kate Morgan tallied 12 and Andie Salasky 10.

The Paladins trailed by as many as five points, 19-14, midway through the first set before going on a 10-4 run and was at set point leading 24-23 on a kill from Headley. The set went into extra points with Samford going back in front 25-24. Furman scored the last three points off a Bulldog attack error and kills by Watkins and Haynes. Haynes captured the set for the Paladins, 27-25, with her kill. Furman concluded the first set hitting .295 as a team.

Samford began the second set on a 6-2 run before building a 14-6 lead following a timeout by the Paladins. Furman would get to within 19-10 late before the Bulldogs closed out the frame on a 6-2 run to win 25-12.

The teams traded the first six points of the third set before the Paladins outscored Samford 11-8 to hold a 14-11 advantage midway when Watkins connected on a kill. The Bulldogs answered with three straight points before Abraham put Furman back in front 15-14 following her kill. Samford then went on a 7-2 run and later sat at set point ahead 24-20. The Paladins staged a late rally and trailed 24-22 after a Bulldog attack error and Abraham service ace. Samford won the set on the following play.

The Bulldogs recorded seven of the initial 11 points of the fourth set before Furman came back with a 5-2 run to even the score at 9-9 on an attack error. After Samford went back ahead 15-13 midway, the Paladins came out of the media timeout to tie the score at 15-15 on Watkins' kill and a service ace from Haynes. Furman stayed within two points during the final stages and trailed 20-19 when Grainne McGrath picked up a kill. The Bulldogs closed out the set on a 5-1 run for the 25-20 win and 3-1 match victory.

McGrath, Headley and Watkins all collected one solo block to lead the Paladins.

Furman travels to Macon, Ga. on Saturday afternoon for a 4 p.m. matchup at Mercer.