CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – After coming off a Thursday match where it took all five games to decide a winner, Campbellsville Volleyball used only six for two games in the tri-match hosted in Powell Athletic Center. CU beat Taylor University and Indiana University Southeast in straight sets as they improved to 22-7 on the year.
CAMPBELLSVILLE VS. TAYLOR
CU set the tone in the first match against Taylor University, as it never trailed in the first set. Rinata Aisena led CU in the first set with five kills and four of them coming in the last five points.
The Lady Tigers once again dominated the next set as they outscored the Trojans 25-9. CU only recorded 10 kills in the set as they took advantage of costly Taylor errors.
Although, Campbellsville outscored the Trojans 50-20 in the first two sets, Taylor University was not going to back down from the heavy-hitting CU offense. TU capitalized on a match-high, four service errors and a match-low .220 attacking percentage for Campbellsville.
With the third set tied at 16 apiece, Campbellsville scored four quick points on kills by outside hitter Kelly Moyer and setter Jackie Schwieger. But Taylor would not go away. The Trojans used a three-point run of their own to get that match to within 24-21, but Aisena put the match away with a swing of her big right arm.
Aisena led CU with 13 kills but CU shared the workload from there. Moyer recorded six kills and Schwieger used a season-high five kills. Daiane Souza and Jana Kortas also chipped in with five kills.
The defense stepped up in the final game as CU recorded a match-high 28 digs with senior Caitlin Dresing leading the way with nine. As sophomore Haley Bechtel was out with an injury, senior Lexis Lloyd entered the starting lineup and helped provide solid defense for the Lady Tigers.
Campbellsville swept Taylor, 25-11, 25-9, and 25-21.
CAMPBELLSVILLE VS. IUSE
In the nightcap, the Lady Tigers were looking to capitalize early and show Indiana Southeast that the last meeting between the two was a fluke. If you remember back to October 19, Campbellsville and IUSE met up in a tri-match hosted by the Grenadiers. CU dropped the first two games, but roared back to steal the match 3-2. Tonight was a different story.
The Lady Tigers started slow in the first game, but after a timeout by Coach Amy Zink, CU took advantage of a service error by IUSE to kick-start its offense.
Campbellsville went on a 7-0 run after the timeout and made the score 13-9 in its favor. IUSE would not go away, though, as the Lady Grenadiers fought back to within two points before Zink called her second timeout of the set with the score 18-16. The Lady Tigers came out of this timeout the same way it did the other and with a 7-2 run took game one, 25-18.
The second set went much like the first. Both teams started out slow but Latvia native, Krista Mihelsone recorded her fourth ace (both matches combined) and CU never trailed from there.
Moyer came up huge for CU as she recorded seven kills but Aisena used her 6-foot-2 frame to outjump the Grenadiers offense by blocking three attacks and putting IUSE away with her fifth kill, 25-17.
As noted before, Campbellsville has struggled to finish matches once the Lady Tigers go up 2-0. CU seemed to let its foot off the gas pedal and Indiana started to catch up.
CU was down 12-6 early in the third set, but Zink called a timeout and got the response she pleaded for.
Campbellsville went on an 8-2 run to tie the match at 14 apiece, but let up once again as IUSE went back up 19-14.
After the final timeout by Zink, CU responded once again and finished the match in comeback fashion. The Lady Tigers used three kills and two blocks by Aisena and went on a 11-3 run to slash any thoughts Indiana University Southeast may have had of coming back, 25-23.
Aisena carried the Lady Tigers on offense with 21 kills. Moyer pitched in with 13 as she also had a team-high .400 hitting percentage.
Schwieger did not record any kills in the final game, but did lead CU with 38 assists against IUSE.
Campbellsville will be back in action on Tuesday night when it travels to the University of the Cumberlands. Game time is at 7 p.m. ET. The Lady Tigers will return home on Thurday, Nov. 7 as coaches Amy Zink and Billy Gregory host senior night for seven CU seniors. Rinata Aisena, Audrey Sanders, Kelly Moyer, Caitlin Dresing, Giselle Hernandez, Lexis Lloyd and Daiane Souza will all be playing their final game in Powell Athletic Center against Cumberland University. First serve is set for 7 p.m. ET.
To follow the Lady Tiger Volleyball throughout the rest of the regular season and into the post season, check them out on Twitter, @CUTigerVball. Also follow @CvilleTigers for all Tiger stats, scores and updates.
STATS
Game one vs. Taylor University
Game two vs. Indiana Univ. Southeast
