CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Senior Night belonged to the Lady Tigers' lone varsity senior, Laura DeGear, Thursday in her final home match in Powell Athletic Center. The Michigan native collected a career-high 23 kills to lead Campbellsville University to a four-set victory over Bethel University (25-19, 25-21, 22-25, 25-22).
After the Lady Tigers took the first set with four kills each by DeGear and Kelly Moyer, DeGear exploded offensively in the second set with nine of CU's 17 kills.
Bethel pulled away in the third set for a three-point win and rallied back from an 8-2 deficit to even the fourth set, 8-8. Bethel would rally again late to even the score, 18-18, but DeGear and her teammates sealed the victory for the Lady Tigers' 25th win of the season.
The 23 kills are the most in a single match by a CU Lady Tiger since Teresa Masava posted 25 in the 2008 National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Tournament.
The remaining 32 kills for CU came from Daiane Souza (9), Kelly Moyer (8), Jana Kortas (7), Kira Stewart (5) and Giselle Hernandez (3). Stewart and Jackie Schwieger each had 22 assists.
Bethel was led by Pollyanna Vitel's 16 kills and 12 from Stefanie Mahaley.
Prior to the match, DeGear was honored in a Senior Night ceremony along with junior varsity seniors Kotey Crowe and Mindy Lowery.
Campbellsville (25-8) will travel to Georgetown College for the final match of the 2012 regular season Tuesday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. EDT.
