KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Campbellsville could not overcome 13 service errors, six in the fourth set, and dropped a 3-1 decision to Oakland City at the NCCAA Volleyball Championship.
After leading 21-16 in the first set, the Lady Tigers limped to a 25-23 win and that reversal of momentum carried through to the rest of the match.
Oakland City (24-3), the No. 5 seed, chiseled out the four-set win with 20-25, 22-25 and 22-25 wins in the second through the fourth sets.
It was Jana Kortas' kill in set one that put CU in the driver's seat at 21-16 even though it took a Rinata Aisena kill at 24-23 to nail down the set.
Trailing by six or seven points throughout most of the second set, CU closed to within four at 22-18 on an Aisena block. But that's as close at the Tigers would get.
Oakland went on two separate three-point runs, the latter the coffin nailer in it's 25-23 win in set three. Daiane Souza's kill brought the score to 23-21, but Oakland won two of the next three points.
Campbellsville had four service errors in the first 16 points of the fourth set, but still managed to fashion a 15-10 lead on successive kills by Aisena. But three straight attack errors allowed OCU to tie the score and it see-sawed back in fourth until Oakland took the lead for good at 21-20.
Aisena led CU with 19 points (15 kills), followed by Daiane Souza (14 points, 13 kills),Laura DeGear (13 points, 13 kills) and Kelly Moyer (13 points and 12 kills). Haley Bechtel led the team with 21 digs. Lexis Lloyd had 12 and Audrey Sanders eight. Jackie Schwieger (29) and Kira Stewart (22) shared 51 of the team's 53 assists.
Campbellsville (29-11) continues its pool play tomorrow with a noon match against No. 9 seed Southern Wesleyan University and closes out pool play at 4 p.m. When it meets No. 1 seed, Fresno Pacific University.
For complete coverage of CU in the NCCAA National Tournament, click here.
In addition to coverage of the NCCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament, CU Sports Information Assistant, and Lady Tiger travel companion, Richard RoBards, will keep fans updated with a behind-the-scenes diary.
