SPRINGFIELD, Ky. — The Lady Tigers started with a block from Rinata Aisena for the first point of the match and also ended with a kill by the Latvia native in the fourth set to give Campbellsville the match over St. Catharine College, 25-16, 25-15, 21-25, 25-18.
Campbellsville sprinted out to a two-set lead but allowed St. Catharine to get back in the match when it lost the third set, 25-21. But coaches Amy Zink and Billy Gregory rallied their troops and CU came back to win the fourth and final set, 25-18.
"We played well the first two sets," said Assistant Coach Bill Gregory. "But the third set we played lazy at times and they stole the set from us."
Campbellsville committed three service errors and had a team low eight kills during the third-set loss. St Catharine took advantage of the miscues the Lady Tigers had on offense and grabbed a little momentum.
Campbellsville also committed numerous attacking errors and the were not finding holes in the defense like they did during the first two sets.
"We have had a problem mentally closing sets," Gregory said. "When we make one error, the other girls have to pick her up and make a play. We are trying to mimize the consecutive errors."
St Catharine gained a little momentum with the third set win and that set up a quick start by the Lady Patriots as they went out to a 3-2 lead in set four. After an ace by Haley Bechtel that knotted the score at 3-3, the play of the night came quickly and may have been missed if you weren't watching closely.
St. Catharine junior Shauna Stone sent a big right hand attack over the net but junior setter, Jackie Schwieger came up with an outstanding dig that led to a kill by Kelly Moyer. The point sparked CU to a 4-3 lead that they would not surrender the rest of the match.
Giselle Hernandez, Daiane Souza, Moyer, and Aisena all shared the load in the final set and all came up with kill after kill to bury St. Catharine.
"It was good to see the seniors step up in the fourth set," said Zink. "They carried us tonight and let's hope they carry this over to the weekend."
Campbellsville will open its first tournament of the season and will travel to Olivet Nazarene to play in the Holiday Inn Express.
The Lady Tigers will play 13th ranked Viterbo University and Trinity Christian College at 3 PM EST and 7 PM EST, respectively.
During the second day of the tournament, Campbellsville will play Saint Ambrose University and Cornerstone University in a double header starting at 1 PM EST.
Live stats will be available for the tournament and links will be posted later this week.
To follow the Lady Tiger volleyball team, check out twitter @CUTigerVball and to follow all CU events, scores and updates check out Campbellsville Athletics, @CvilleTigers.
STATLINE
Kills: Aisena 13, Hernandez 10, Moyer, 8, Souza 8, Jana Kortas 4
Aces: Aisena 3, Bechtel 3, Audrey Sanders 1, Caitin Dresing 1
Assists: Schwieger 28, Krista Mihelsone 8, Kortas 2, Lexis Lloyd 5
Digs: Schwieger 14, Sanders 9, Moyer 6, Dresing 21, Bechtel 11, Lloyd 5
Blocks: Aisena 2, Souza 2
