CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Campbellsville (4-0, 3-0) overcame unforced errors against Mid-South Conference foe Rio Grande University (1-4, 0-2), and prevailed for the three-set sweep (25-19, 25-13, 25-21) over the RedStorm
Rinata Aisena started the scoring for CU with two blocks in a row and then another block by Jana Kortas that made the score 4-3 Lady Tigers. But Rio Grande did not back down from the big hitter from Campbellsville. They kept coming back with an attack of their own.
With a score of 9-8, coach Amy Zink called a timeout and did not seem too happy with how the girls started out for the first 17 points of the match.
"Although we came out flat, that did not stop us from staying focused the rest of the match," said Zink. "We are working hard as a team to stay mentally tough throughout the whole match and not get down about one error."
After the timeout, Campbellsville came back and it looked like there was a little fire under them. Daiane Souza received a pass from Krista Mihelsone and she slammed a kill up the middle against the RedStorm defense, making the score 10-8 in favor of Campbellsville.
Aisena and Giselle Hernandez each had a kill after the big kill by Souza and that sparked the Lady Tigers to a 8-3 run before a time out called by RedStorm coach, Billina Donaldson. The score now 17-11.
The Lady Tigers come out again with some fire and Kelly Moyer sent a kill down the sideline from Mihelsone. Campbellsville scored three more points before Rio Grade started to make a run of their own.
The RedStorm made it tough for Campbellsville to break open the match and kept fighting back to within range. But Aisena had the final two kills to end the first set.
The second set started with a huge run by Campbellsville. The Lady Tigers came out and scored 16 of the first 22 points, making the score 16-6.
The Lady Tigers had full control of the second set. Although, Rio Grande scored a few points in a row late in the set, Kelly Moyer said not so fast, and started to find holes in the defense.
Caitlin Dresing ended the second set with a service ace (25-13).
The third set came out a little differently for the Lady Tigers. Rio Grande came out and showed they still had some fight left in them. They jumped ahead, 10-7, early in the set, but after a time out by Zink, Campbellsville got back on track.
"We made some unforced errors," Zink said. "Those are going to happen, but we cannot let multiple errors occur throughout the match. That is where mental toughness comes in to play."
Although the rest of the match was played very evenly, Campbellsville bared-down and play solidly. Both teams kept scoring points and neither could get ahead and give their teams momentum.
But the momentum came quickly for CU. After a long volley back and fourth between the two teams, Rio Grande's Autumn Snider sent a hard attack over the net that Lady Tiger libero, Dresing, dove for and made the play of the afternoon. She dug up the attack by Snider and set up a kill by teammate, Hernandez.
That point gave the Lady Tigers the lead that they would not relinquish the rest of the match.
Hernandez recorded a team-high five kills in the third set.
"Giselle had a great match," said Zink. "She quickly found holes in the defense and was able to put balls down."
The Lady Tigers scored the last five points of the match and put the score at 25-21.
Campbellsville (4-0, 3-0) plays Shawnee State University (4-1, 1-0) Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in Powell Athletic Center.
Stat Line:
Kills: Aisena- 12, Souza- 9, Herandez- 8, Moyer- 8, Schwieger- 2, Milhesone- 1
Assists: Mihelsone- 17, Schwieger- 15, Kortas- 2
Digs: Dresing- 11, Llyod- 7, Sanders- 6, Bechtel- 5, Hernandez- 5
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