# @sec on YouTube

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://youtube.com/watch?v=Mmnc9csfyfs
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/69963327-sec-youtube
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/90b15abd43.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-09-01T15:33:46.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Southeastern Conference (@SEC) — https://gondola.cc/SEC

## Caption

Samford 1, Alabama 3
Foster Auditorium, Tuscaloosa, AL. August 28, 2026

Alabama volleyball opened its 2026 season with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Samford at Foster Auditorium, needing all four sets to close out a Bulldogs squad that refused to go quietly.

The first set was tight throughout. Samford grabbed an early 3-2 edge before Alabama took the lead back and never relinquished it, closing out the frame 25-23 behind 12 kills assisted largely by junior setter Hannah Parant. "We were relentless tonight," head coach Rashinda Reed said afterward. Samford came out with more fight in the second set, building a 6-3 cushion, but Alabama again clawed back in front, eventually pulling away for a 25-20 win to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Samford finally broke through in the third, jumping out to a 17-12 advantage. A kill from junior middle blocker Addison Engel pulled Alabama within striking distance at 20-20, but the Bulldogs held on to take the set 25-22, keeping their hopes alive. "It wasn't pretty," Reed admitted, "but you could just give up, especially when they keep pushing back and giving everything they've got." Alabama didn't give up. The fourth set opened slowly for the Tide, who trailed 3-1, but Alabama seized control at 15-16 and never looked back, reeling off five straight points to make it 20-15 before closing out the match with a 25-20 set win.

Kaleigh Palmer and Mya Allen each led Alabama with 11 kills, while Parant finished with 43 assists on the night. For Samford, senior Ally Cordes paced the offense with 12 kills, and freshman Maggie Kalisz made an immediate impact in her Bulldogs debut with 31 assists and four blocks. Freshman Amyra Burchik added 11 kills of her own.

The win improved Alabama to 1-0, extending the program's all-time record against Samford to 23-1 and its home-opener mark to 13-0. Samford fell to 0-1 on the season. Alabama continued the Crimson Tide Invitational the next day against UC Riverside, while Samford also faced UC Riverside to close out its opening weekend.

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## Stats

- **Views:** 610
- **Likes:** 3
- **Shares:** 0
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## Tags

ncaavolleyball, sec, collegevolleyball, secvolleyball, secnetwork, alabamacrimsontide, highlights

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