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No. 3 Wofford wins 2023 SoCon Volleyball Championship
Terriers win the first women’s tournament title in school history over No. 4 Samford
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford Terriers (23-7, 11-5 SoCon), the No. 3 seed, won the 2023 Southern Conference Volleyball Championship in four sets (25-10, 26-24, 23-25, 25-18) over fourth seeded-Samford, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship on Sunday afternoon inside Wofford’s Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.
Wofford opened the match with seven straight points with Emily Hodsdon on the service line, forcing Samford to take a timeout. The Terriers continued their strong play when the set resumed, building the lead to 18-8 following a block from Sarah MacLean and Sarah Braham, a first-team all-conference selection. The Bulldogs would take their second timeout of the frame at that point.
After the break, Wofford’s dominance in the opening set continued. The Terriers would eventually win the frame 25-10 following a kill by Barham.
In the second set, the two teams split the first 18 points before Wofford went on a 3-0 run after an attack error from Samford, a block by Addison Foote and a kill from Mary Emily Morgan. Following a timeout, Samford scored four straight points to go ahead 13-12.
Wofford moved ahead 19-16, but Samford rattled off four straight points, punctuated by a kill from Greer Golden, leading to a Terrier timeout. Samford held on to its lead, eventually get to set point after a kill by first-team all-conference performer Gracie Lynn Butler made the score 24-22. Wofford responded with a 4-0 run to win the set 26-24, fueled by kills from MacLean and strong serves from Laney Klika.
The third set began as a back-and-forth affair as the two teams split the first 26 points. Two straight kills by Kate Wonus made the score 15-13 in favor of Samford, leading to the media timeout.
Following the break, Wofford regained the lead at 19-18 following a kill by Millie Loehr, a second-team all-conference selection, prompting a timeout from the Bulldogs. Samford would fight back and tie the set at 21-21 after two straight kills from Ally Cordes, leading to a timeout call by the Terriers. Four points later with the score tied 23-23, Samford got a kill from Cordes and Wonus and Sophia Plasman combined for a block to give the Bulldogs a 25-23 win, sending the match into the fourth set.
Samford scored the first three points of the fourth set before a Wofford run made the score 7-5 in favor of the Terriers. The Bulldogs would move in front 10-9 before Wofford scored five straight points. The Terriers would keep their lead and after a kill by Foote made the score 22-17, Wofford was three points away from victory. Samford took its final timeout of the set at that point.
Coming out of the timeout, an attack error by the Bulldogs and a kill by Loehr put Wofford one point away from victory. Two plays later, Morgan got a kill to end the set at 25-18, ending the match and giving the Terriers the championship.
The match featured 24 ties and 15 lead changes. Wofford’s defense dominated at the net, picking up 20 total blocks in the final.
Barham, the 2023 SoCon Tournament Most Outstanding Player, finished with seven kills and a match-high 11 blocks. MacLean logged 12 kills, seven blocks and four digs. Laney Klika recorded a team-high 15 digs and two service aces. Kate Morgan had a match-high 20 digs for Samford.
Wofford will learn its NCAA tournament opponent during the selection show on Sunday, Nov. 26. The show is set for 6 p.m. ET on ESPN.
2023 Southern Conference Volleyball Championship
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Tuesday, Nov. 14
First Round
Match 1: No. 8 ETSU 3, No. 9 UNCG 1 (at ETSU)
Friday, Nov. 17
Quarterfinals
Match 2: No. 4 Samford 3, No. 5 Furman 2
Match 3: No. 1 The Citadel 3, No. 8 ETSU 0
Match 4: No. 7 Chattanooga 3, No. 2 Mercer 1
Match 5: No. 3 Wofford 3, No. 6 Western Carolina 2
Saturday, Nov. 18
Semifinals
Match 6: No. 4 Samford 3, No. 1 The Citadel 0
Match 7: No. 3 Wofford 3, No. 7 Chattanooga 0
Sunday, Nov. 19
Championship
Match 8: No. 3 Wofford 3, No. 4 Samford 1
All-Tournament Team
Kathleen Bula, The Citadel
Gracie Lynn Butler, Samford
Kate Morgan, Samford
Chard’e Vanzandt, Chattanooga
Sarah Barham, Wofford
Laney Klika, Wofford
Sarah MacLean, Wofford
Most Outstanding Player
Sarah Barham, Wofford
Pinnacle Award Recipient (highest cumulative GPA among championship-eligible student-athletes on winning team)
Mary Emily Morgan, Wofford
Wofford opened the match with seven straight points with Emily Hodsdon on the service line, forcing Samford to take a timeout. The Terriers continued their strong play when the set resumed, building the lead to 18-8 following a block from Sarah MacLean and Sarah Braham, a first-team all-conference selection. The Bulldogs would take their second timeout of the frame at that point.
After the break, Wofford’s dominance in the opening set continued. The Terriers would eventually win the frame 25-10 following a kill by Barham.
In the second set, the two teams split the first 18 points before Wofford went on a 3-0 run after an attack error from Samford, a block by Addison Foote and a kill from Mary Emily Morgan. Following a timeout, Samford scored four straight points to go ahead 13-12.
Wofford moved ahead 19-16, but Samford rattled off four straight points, punctuated by a kill from Greer Golden, leading to a Terrier timeout. Samford held on to its lead, eventually get to set point after a kill by first-team all-conference performer Gracie Lynn Butler made the score 24-22. Wofford responded with a 4-0 run to win the set 26-24, fueled by kills from MacLean and strong serves from Laney Klika.
The third set began as a back-and-forth affair as the two teams split the first 26 points. Two straight kills by Kate Wonus made the score 15-13 in favor of Samford, leading to the media timeout.
Following the break, Wofford regained the lead at 19-18 following a kill by Millie Loehr, a second-team all-conference selection, prompting a timeout from the Bulldogs. Samford would fight back and tie the set at 21-21 after two straight kills from Ally Cordes, leading to a timeout call by the Terriers. Four points later with the score tied 23-23, Samford got a kill from Cordes and Wonus and Sophia Plasman combined for a block to give the Bulldogs a 25-23 win, sending the match into the fourth set.
Samford scored the first three points of the fourth set before a Wofford run made the score 7-5 in favor of the Terriers. The Bulldogs would move in front 10-9 before Wofford scored five straight points. The Terriers would keep their lead and after a kill by Foote made the score 22-17, Wofford was three points away from victory. Samford took its final timeout of the set at that point.
Coming out of the timeout, an attack error by the Bulldogs and a kill by Loehr put Wofford one point away from victory. Two plays later, Morgan got a kill to end the set at 25-18, ending the match and giving the Terriers the championship.
The match featured 24 ties and 15 lead changes. Wofford’s defense dominated at the net, picking up 20 total blocks in the final.
Barham, the 2023 SoCon Tournament Most Outstanding Player, finished with seven kills and a match-high 11 blocks. MacLean logged 12 kills, seven blocks and four digs. Laney Klika recorded a team-high 15 digs and two service aces. Kate Morgan had a match-high 20 digs for Samford.
Wofford will learn its NCAA tournament opponent during the selection show on Sunday, Nov. 26. The show is set for 6 p.m. ET on ESPN.
2023 Southern Conference Volleyball Championship
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Tuesday, Nov. 14
First Round
Match 1: No. 8 ETSU 3, No. 9 UNCG 1 (at ETSU)
Friday, Nov. 17
Quarterfinals
Match 2: No. 4 Samford 3, No. 5 Furman 2
Match 3: No. 1 The Citadel 3, No. 8 ETSU 0
Match 4: No. 7 Chattanooga 3, No. 2 Mercer 1
Match 5: No. 3 Wofford 3, No. 6 Western Carolina 2
Saturday, Nov. 18
Semifinals
Match 6: No. 4 Samford 3, No. 1 The Citadel 0
Match 7: No. 3 Wofford 3, No. 7 Chattanooga 0
Sunday, Nov. 19
Championship
Match 8: No. 3 Wofford 3, No. 4 Samford 1
All-Tournament Team
Kathleen Bula, The Citadel
Gracie Lynn Butler, Samford
Kate Morgan, Samford
Chard’e Vanzandt, Chattanooga
Sarah Barham, Wofford
Laney Klika, Wofford
Sarah MacLean, Wofford
Most Outstanding Player
Sarah Barham, Wofford
Pinnacle Award Recipient (highest cumulative GPA among championship-eligible student-athletes on winning team)
Mary Emily Morgan, Wofford