CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The drought ended Tuesday night. Campbellsville University bounced back from yet another close set, 26-24, to start its Mid-South Conference match against University of the Cumberlands, and won three straight (25-18, 25-16, 25-16) to take the match, 3-1.

The win is CU's first at home this season after dropping three previous home matches in three sets. It also snapped a seven-match losing skid to help CU improve to 2-4 in the MSC.

"It was important for the girls to feel what it's like to win again. Nobody wants to lose but it can become habit forming," CU assistant coach Billy Gregory said. "For us to play so well after losing to them at their place and dropping the first game was extremely important to our growth process."

Jade Nelson had a breakout game for Campbellsville. The senior transfer from Prairie View A&M passed her CU season high (12 kills) with 14 kills in the first two sets and  finished the night with a collegiate career-high 23 kills. It was the most since collecting 18 in an August 2012 match for Hutchinson Community College.

Jana Kortas followed with 19 kills, her best career performance against a MSC opponent.

CU led 20-18 in the first set, but a series of attack error and a reception error pushed Cumberlands in front 23-20. Kills by Nelson and Kortas helped pull CU closer, and the Lady Tigers evened the set, 24-24, with a Brooklyn Bowling ace. Jennifer Philpot and Samantha Stuckwisch put the set away with back-to-back kills.

The second set played out similar to the first and several of the previous sets this season, but Campbellsville closed the set with a 9-1 run. Trailing 17-16, CU regained its serve after a Patriots attack error. Krista Mihelsone served the Lady Tigers to seven straight points, including two aces before siding out on a service error at 24-18. Mihelsone led CU with four of its eight services aces in the match. Kortas put set point away with a kill to give CU its first set victory at home this season. Kortas finished the match with 19 kills.

Momentum carried over into the third set with Mihelsone serving CU to a 4-0 start with kills by Nelson and Kortas. The four-point lead later became nine, 20-11, after a five-point run. Nelson and Kortas led CU with seven and six kills, respectively, in the set.

The final set was nearly identical with Campbellsville turning an 11-6 lead into a 19-6 lead thanks to a serving run by Stephanie Lambert. Kortas once again had six kills in the game to lead CU.

Morgan Schlatter led Cumberlands' attack with 10 kills, while Stuckwisch had 30 assists.

Jackie Schwieger led CU with 48 assists. Marcella Compeau led the defense with 24 digs.

Prior to the varsity game, CU's junior varsity team also beat Cumberlands, doing so in two sets: 25-12 and 25-20. It is the first JV and varsity sweep of the season for CU. Click here to read the JV recap.

Campbellsville (6-15, 2-4 MSC) will return to action Thursday, Oct. 2 at home against Cumberland University (Tenn.) at 7 p.m.