Holding a 2-1 lead in the final match of the day Thursday, Campbellsville University head coach Randy LeBleu challenged his players to close out the win immediately.

"Do it now," LeBleu told his team. "Make this fourth set the best you've played all match."

CU started out strong, jumping out to a 5-0 lead and later going up 13-3. But Malone kept it close, turning a 15-7 set into a 17-15 lead by the Lady Tigers. CU secured the match with a 25-21 fourth-set win to take a 2-0 advantage in Pool B at the NCCAA National Championships in Kissimmee, Fla.

Trailing 7-6 in the first set, CU went on the attack to take a 15-10 lead. Malone rallied, but a pair of big attacks by Christiana Sindelar, followed by a kill by Brooke Marcum distanced the lead again, 21-17. The Pioneers managed to rally again, but CU held on, 25-23.

Despite taking a 5-1 lead in the second set, CU was unable to take advantage in the match, falling 25-20. Malone evened the score, 5-5, before pulling ahead for most of the match. Shannon Cahill rallied CU from the back line and serving to a 15-15 tie, but the Lady Tigers never regained their lead.

In the third set, CU posted a 3-0 start and built the lead to six at one point, 12-6, before Malone rallied to even the score, 13-13. The Lady Tigers' lead bent once more but never broke, as CU went on a 9-5 rally from a 16-16 tie to win the set, 25-21. Samantha James had back-to-back kills out of the tie to start the run. She later sealed the win with her seventh kill of the set. She had 10 in the match.

Cahill led CU in the match with 15 kills and five aces offensively, while adding 14 digs. Sindelar was second in attacking with 11 kills. Caitlin Dresing led the defense with 28 digs, while Jovana Koprivicia had 15 and Caroline Martin had 10. Martin had 42 set assists. Renee Netherton had five kills and two blocks in the win.

CU (34-13) meets the only other undefeated team in Pool B, Spring Arbor University, Friday at 10 a.m. CU will meet Southwestern Assemblies of God at 4 p.m. Friday.

NCCAA TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, DEC. 3
POOL A
10 a.m. - Bryan def. Northwestern -- 25-22, 12-25, 20-25, 25-19, 15-9
Noon - Mt. Vernon Nazarene def. Southeastern - 25-14, 25-22, 25-22
2 p.m. - Northwestern def. King - 25-22, 17-25, 19-25, 25-18, 25-11
4 p.m. - Bryan def. Southeastern - 25-12, 25-22, 25-17
6:30 p.m. - King def. Mt. Vernon Nazarene vs King -- 26-24, 24-26, 25-22, 18-25, 15-13

POOL B
10 a.m. - Spring Arbor def. Southwestern A/G - 25-21, 21-25, 25-19, 20-25, 15-10
Noon - Campbellsville def. Pensacola Christian - 25-11, 25-12, 25-6
2 p.m. - Malone def. Southwestern A/G - 25-16, 25-22, 25-18
4 p.m. - Spring Arbor def. Pensacola Christian - 25-15, 25-22, 25-17
6:30 p.m. - Campbellsville vs Malone - 25-23, 20-25, 25-21, 25-21

FRIDAY, DEC. 4
POOL A
10 a.m. Mt. Vernon Nazarene vs Bryan - Court 2
Noon Northwestern vs Southeastern - Court 2
2 p.m. King vs Bryan - Court 2
4 p.m. Mt. Vernon Nazarene vs Northwestern - Court 2
6:30 p.m. King vs Southeastern - Court 2

POOL B
10 a.m. Campbellsville vs Spring Arbor- Court 1
Noon Southwestern A/G vs Pensacola Christian - Court 1
2 p.m. Malone vs Spring Arbor- Court 1
4 p.m. Campbellsville vs Southwestern A/G - Court 1
6:30 p.m. Malone vs Pensacola Christian - Court 1

SATURDAY, DEC. 5 - SEMIFINALS - Court 1
10 a.m. Pool A Winner vs Pool B Runner-Up
Noon Pool B Winner vs Pool A Runner-Up

CHAMPIONSHIP - Court 1
3 p.m. Winners of Semifinal matches