BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ­ Rachel Hassan had her fourth double-double of the year with a career-high 20 kills and a match-high 19 digs but it wasn’t enough as Troy State was defeated by Samford, 3-2, in the Atlantic Sun opener for both teams at Seibert Hall Saturday afternoon.

Game five was in doubt right to the end. TSU led by as many as three points at 6-3, before Samford tied it at 10-10. The Trojans sided out to 13-12, before a kill by Samford’s Whitney Miller tied it at 13. TSU set Erika Vanhootegem and Julie Leslie on the last two points but they were both blocked by the Bulldogs. Samford finished with a school-record 20 blocks.

Samford (4-8, 1-0 A-Sun) took the three odd games winning game one 30-24, game three 30-15, and the finale 15-13. TSU won game two 30-26 and game four 30-28. The Trojans had five game points in game four leading 29-24. The Bulldogs fought off four of them to force a TSU timeout at 29-28, but a missed serve after the timeout forced the fifth game.

TSU (4-6, 0-1) had three players post double-doubles led by Hassan. Vanhootegem had 13 kills and 10 digs for her fifth double-double of the year, and Haven Triboulet recorded a season-high 12 kills to go along with 15 digs.

The Trojans set a season-high with nine team blocks and were led by Holly Martin’s five and Hassan’s four, respectively. Samford out hit TSU .201-.100 and had three more aces than the Trojans.

TSU will step out of conference play on Tuesday and make its third trip north on Interstate-65 in eight days as it faces Birmingham-Southern. First serve at Striplin Gym is set for 7 p.m.