Box Score KISSIMME, FLA. — Campbellsville passed its first test this afternoon at the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Championship, defeating Cincinnati Christian 3-0.
The sweep is important in pool play because one of the tiebreakers is set differential. The Lady Tigers will have their second match today at 6:00 when they face off against Southern Wesleyan University.
In the first set, CU (28-12) won eight points off
Katie Johnson's serve and broke open a 4-4 tie with 4-0 and 6-1 runs. Johnson had three kills and three aces in the set.
CU took the lead for good in the second set when an 8-4 run punctuated by a bevy of kills from
Maria Coelho, Johnson,
Annija Abolina and
Jessie Stone. Abolina and Johnson's kills gave CU a 24-16 lead and the next point off a CCU attack error sealed a two-set advantage.
Cincinnati Christian (19-12) didn't make it easy for Campbellsville in the third set. The Eagles never let the Lady Tigers escape by more than two points until a 3-0 run late gave CU a 20-16 lead.
An Eagles' timeout flipped the momentum, however, and CCU drew within 24-23 before a service error ended a nice rally by the Eagles.
Abolina led CU with 11 kills and received support on offense from Johnson (7), Coelho (8) and
Julia Fonseca (6). The Lady Tigers started like gangbusters, hitting and almost-unheard-of .652. That trailed off in the second set to .400 and .250 in the third.
Johnson and
Inoa Fields had three service aces apiece of the nine recorded by the Lady Tigers. Fields had 26 assists in the three-set match.
Jessie Pendleton had 11 digs to lead everyone.
In addition to coverage of the NCCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship, CU Sports Information Assistant, Richard RoBards, and Sports Information Graduate Assistant, Maggie Calvert, both Lady Tiger travel companions, will keep fans updated with periodic behind-the-scenes features on www.campbellsvilletigers.com and photo galleries on Facebook at Campbellsville Tigers. You can also follow the Lady Tigers on Twitter at @CUTigerVball and @CvilleTigers.
