Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio / Hilliard Davidson) led the Gannon women’s volleyball team to an impressive opening to the 2021 season while competing in the Molloy Invitational. The 5’10” outside hitter led the Lady Knights to three wins in four matches. The Lady Knights won in three games over Wilmington (Del.) and American International on the first day, then dominated a Molloy team that reached the Elite Eight in 2019 the next day, prevailing 25-19, 25-11, 25-11. In the final match, Gannon faced a Nebraska-Kearney team that was ranked fourth in the AVCA Division II Preseason Top 25 in a rematch of the 2019 Elite Eight quarterfinals. The Lady Knights just came up short, dropping a 25-18, 12-15, 25-20, 14-25, 14-16 decision. Sampson led Gannon in kills in two of the four matches and had 10-or-more kills in three of the four contests. She finished with a team-leading 38 kills and also is tied for the team lead with eight service aces. The senior had a high of 15 kills vs. AIC. She now has 901 career kills.
