CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — (BOX SCORE) Lady Tiger volleyball tried to come back from a two-set deficit in their season-opening match Saturday, but could not hold on to a 17-12 lead in the third, losing to Bethel University, 25-18, 25-23, 25-23.

Jana Kortas led CU with 13 kills, followed by Annija Abolina and Maria Coelho, recording six kills apiece.

Bethel used Campbellsville's 22 total service errors to maintain or gain the lead in each set. By comparison, Bethel had 10 service errors.

Bethel's Eloisa Sales recorded nine kills, followed by fellow teammates Daisy Liljenquist and Monique Johnson, recording five kills, respectively.

In the first set, both teams went back and forth until Campbellsville made five errors during a crucial nine-point span to let Bethel stretch its lead to 18-11. Bethel maintained that lead and Campbellsville would never recover.

During the second set, Campbellsville battled with Bethel again until the final point. CU called a time-out trailing 24-23 but coming out of the timeout Bethel ended CU's hopes of winning on a set-play kill by Sales.

In the third set, the Lady Tigers couldn't hold onto their lead, letting the Wildcats eventually tie the set at 17-17. Near the end, Kortas and Inoa Fields converted a huge block to tie the set at 23-all after Bethel led 23-22. But CU made back-to-back errors to lose the match.

Jessie Pendleton led the defense in digs with seven, followed closely by Abolina and Fields both picking up five.

Campbellsville hits the road for its first conference game of the year at Shawnee State, on Aug. 25. The match is set for 7 p.m. ET.

You can follow Lady Tiger Volleyball through Twitter @CvilleTigers and @CUTigerVball, on the web and on Facebook — Campbellsville Tigers.