LEBANON, Tenn. — It may not have been classic volleyball, but it was a Classic win for the Lady Tigers as they added two wins on Saturday and snatched a perfect 4-0 record during the two-day Cumberland University Volleyball Classic.
CU survived an early-morning wake-up call to defeat Lindenwood/Belleville 3-2 (22-25, 25-18, 25-22, 19-25 and 15-12). It then validated that win against the only other undefeated team in the Classic — Freed-Hardeman 3-1 (25-17, 28-30, 25-19 and 25-21).
"The team played hard the whole tournament, even playing through some ugly monents," said Coach Amy Eckenfels. "But we earned the right to call ourselves tournament champions."
The weekend wins improve Campbellsville to 10-4 (2-1). The Lady Tigers will go back on the road Tuesday and Wednesday to play a conference match against Cumberland University and a non-conference encounter at Bethel.
Campbellsville vs. Lindenwood/Belleville
Lindenwood came into the match with no Classic wins, but nearly pulled one off against the eventual champs.
Haley Bethchel and Kira Stewart fortified the attack for the Lady Tigers with a couple of late kills to help seal the 15-12 fifth-set win.
After limping through the 9 a.m. start in set 1, Bechtel and Rinata Aisena ended the second set with a flourish.
Bechtel led the team with 14 kills. Aisena and Laura DeGear had 13 apiece and Daiane Souza had 11. Jackie Schwieger picked up 20 assists and Stewart 23. Caitlin Dresing had 19 digs and Audrey Sanders 13. Kelly Moyer chipped in with three service aces in the match.
Campbellsville vs. Freed-Hardeman
CU used a 55-kill attack against the Lady Lions, with Laura DeGear's 15 leading the way for the Lady Tigers. She received ample support from Rinata Aisena with 12 and 11 each by Haley Bechtel and Daiane Souza.
In set 1 Campbellsville raced to a 15-9 lead, increased it to 23-15 and sealed it with an Aisena kill.
The Lady Tigers led 26-25, after trailing by as many as five in the middle of set 2, but could not seal the deal. A kill by Frenanda Ferreira tied it a 26, but Freed used a setting error to tie the match and ended it on Michell Bennett's kill.
After a 12-all tie in set 3, Souza picked up a kill and sent the Lady Tigers on their way — increasing their lead to four. Nine kills later CU owned the 25-19 win.
In the fourth and final set a kill by DeGear gave CU separation at 7-6 and Freed never got within two the rest of the way.
Aisena and Kelly Moyer had three service aces in the match with Audrey Sanders and Bechtel two each. Kira Stewart (36) and Jackie Schwieger (12) shared 48 assists. Caitlin Dresing led the team with 12 digs.
