Sampson Paces Lady Knights in Strong Showing in Exhibition Match at Bowling Green

FINAL STATS

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Gannon volleyball team battled Division I Bowling Green on even terms of much of Sunday's exhibition match before dropping a 3-1 decision to the Falcons. Three of the four sets could have gone either way. Bowling Green won the first set 26-24 before the Lady Knights evened the match with a 25-22 triumph in the second set. The Falcons won set three, 25-6, and rallied for a 25-22 win in the fourth set.

The exhibition match afforded both coaches a chance to get an initial look at teams that enjoyed great success a year ago. Gannon was 18-4 a year ago and appeared in the AVCA Division II National Championships with the NCAA not sponsoring a national tournament. The Lady Knights had previously qualified for the last 11 NCAA Tournaments. Bowling Green, meanwhile, is the reigning Mid-American Conference champion, finishing 22-2 and qualifying for the NCAA Division I National Championships.

"This afternoon's match against Bowling Green provided us with a chance to see where we are as a team after a week of practice, related Gannon head coach Matt Darling. "I want to watch the film before making full evaluations of our performance, but I think we'll be able to learn a great deal about our strengths and weaknesses and, hopefully, be ready to go for out opener in a couple of weeks."

Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) (Hilliard, Ohio / Hilliard Davidson) paced Gannon with 14 kills and a .238 hitting percentage. The senior outside hitter added four service aces and 12 digs. Freshman outside hitter Sam Deinek (South Lyon, Mich./South Lyon East) (South Lyon, Mich. / South Lyon East) added five kills in 13 attempts.

Ashley Beyers (Lanark, Ill./Eastland) (Lanark, Ill. / Eastland), a redshirt senior setter, contributed 25 assists and 10 digs. Freshman defensive specialist/libero Emma Hall (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) (Lowell, Mich. / Lowell) was a third Lady Knight with double figure digs, totaling 12.

Gannon would lead in the latter stages in three of the four sets. The Lady Knights held a 22-20 lead in set number one, but Bowling Green would score of the final five points for the 26-24 decision. Gannon never trailed by more than a point in the second set, a 25-22 win, and took the lead for good at 23-20 courtesy of three straight Sampson service aces.

After Bowling Green won the third set, 25-6, Gannon pushed the Falcons once again in the fourth set. The see-saw set saw five lead changes before the Falcons grabbed the lead at 19-18. The Lady Knights rallied back to within 24-22 on a service error and a Katie Becht (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) kill before BGSU won 25-22.

Gannon will officially open the 2021 campaign on September 3-4, competing in the Molloy Tournament.

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Players Mentioned

#3 Katie Becht: DS; 5' 7"; Senior; Physician Assistant

#5 Ashley Beyers: S; 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior; Pre-Veterinary Medicine/Biology

#8 Lauren Sampson: OH; 5' 10"; Senior; Physical Therapy

#2 Sam Deinek: OH; 6' 2"; Freshman

#6 Emma Hall: DS/L; 5' 11"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#3 Katie Becht
: 5' 7"; Senior; Physician Assistant
: DS

#5 Ashley Beyers
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior; Pre-Veterinary Medicine/Biology
: S

#8 Lauren Sampson
: 5' 10"; Senior; Physical Therapy
: OH

#2 Sam Deinek
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: OH

#6 Emma Hall
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: DS/L