GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team took down the Samford Bulldogs in its 2026 home finale on Saturday afternoon, 3-2 (24-26, 25-20, 25-21, 22-25, 15-12) in Southern Conference (SoCon) action inside Bodford Arena.
UNCG volleyball seniors Izora Gragg, Lauren Janosy, Mia Nicklas, Aylin Baran and Akila Hardie were honored in a Senior Day ceremony prior to the start of Saturday's match against the Bulldogs.
After leading today's match with 33 kills, junior outside hitter Allie Sweet has tied the UNCG volleyball program record for kills in a single season with 543 so far on the 2026 campaign. The record was previously set by Branagan Fuller in the 2007 season.
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The Spartans improve to 19-8 overall and 12-4 in the SoCon. The last time UNCG secured 12 conference wins was in the 2021 season as that team concluded the SoCon slate 12-4 that year.
With today's win over the Bulldogs, the Spartans conclude the 2026 home slate 10-1 in Bodford Arena. The last time UNCG had only one loss in its home schedule was in the 2015 campaign as that team also went 10-1 at home.
The last time UNCG secured both regular-season matches against Samford was in the 2016 season.
How it happened
Set 1
Samford took an early 9-6 lead and stretched it to 17-13. UNCG answered with a 6-2 run, sparked by kills from Sweet, Kendall Lanclos and Hailey Clifton, to tie the set at 19. The teams traded points to 24-24, but Samford's Ally Cordes ended the set with a kill and a service ace for a 26-24 Bulldog win.
Set 2
UNCG came out strong, building a 7-1 advantage with two Chloe Nussbaum service aces and a pair of Sweet kills. The Spartans extended the lead to 18-9 before Samford rallied, cutting it to 21-18 and later 23-20. Sweet's kill brought UNCG to set point, and a Samford error gave the Spartans the 25-20 win.
Set 3
UNCG moved in front 5-2, but Samford stayed close and eventually tied the set at 14. The teams continued trading points, reaching 19-19. Sweet and Siena Smiejek helped UNCG take three straight points for a 22-19 lead. Samford pulled within two, but the Spartans closed out the set, 25-21, on kills by Connore' Siler-Nixon and Sweet.
Set 4
Samford opened with a 2-0 lead and, after UNCG tied it at four, put together a 5-0 stretch to go up 9-4. The Spartans worked their way back and tied the set at 10, then took a 13-12 lead. After another tie at 14, UNCG scored three straight to lead 17-14. Samford rallied again, tying the set at 20 and 21 before scoring the final three points to win 25-22 and force a fifth set.
Set 5
UNCG jumped ahead 4-1, but Samford answered with five consecutive points to lead 6-4. The Spartans tied the score at six, and neither team led by more than one through the next stretch. After Samford went up 11-10, Lanclos and Sweet delivered back-to-back kills to put UNCG ahead 12-11. A Samford attack error made it 14-12, and Sweet finished the match with a kill for the 15-12 win.
By the numbers
- Sweet recorded her 42nd career double-double and 19th of the season, leading the match with 33 kills and adding 19 digs.
- Gragg notched her 22nd career double-double and 10th of the season with a career-best 57 assists and 14 digs.
- Nussbaum paced the match with 28 digs and led UNCG with three service aces.
- Clifton added 10 kills, and Nicklas recorded 12 digs.
- Six Spartans registered at least one block, with Sweet and Siler-Nixon leading the way with three apiece.
Records
UNCG: 19-8, 12-4 SoCon
SAM: 12-14, 9-7 SoCon
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Up next
UNCG will conclude the 2026 regular season in Macon, Georgia, facing Mercer on Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. inside Hawkins Arena.
