CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Lady Tiger volleyball opens its 2016 campaign this weekend at the Lindsey Wilson Classic. Campbellsville has a pair of games on Friday, Aug. 26 and another two on Saturday, Aug. 27.
The Lady Tigers, who were picked to finish fifth in the Mid-South Conference, take on Taylor University at 1 p.m. ET on Friday afternoon and will turn right around and play Point Park University at 5 p.m.
On Saturday, CU takes on Union College at 11 a.m. and Brescia University at 1 p.m.
Point Park University is the lone CU opponent this weekend that has games under its belt. The Pioneers have started the season 3-1 – its lone victory coming against Life University, 3-2. PPU lost to Montreat College, 3-2, Keiser University, 3-1 and Milligan College, 3-1.
All games this weekend can be followed via live stats on Dakstats.
The Lady Tigers return six players from last years roster and has added another six via transfers or freshman signees.
Annija Abolina returns after a solid sophomore campaign of finishing with 379 kills. She also ranked second on the team with 46 service aces. In addition, setter
Inoa Fields returns for her senior year after leading the Lady Tigers in assists (1,291) and service aces (51), while finishing second in digs (268) and was fourth in blocks (37).
On the defensive side of the net, CU returns defensive specialist,
Marcella Compeau and
Jessie Pendleton. Pendleton led the Lady Tigers with 485 digs, while Compeau was behind Fields and graduated senior
Jana Kortas with 259 digs.
CU will have to replace Kortas, who broke into the 1,000 career kills club last season. She finished her four-year career with 1,163 kills, 629 digs and 122 assists.
Coach
Amy Zink hit the recruiting trail hard this offseason and brought in four high school signees and a pair of transfers –
Katie Johnson (Northwest College) and
Jessie Stone (Mid-Continent and St. Catharine College.
Johnson redshirted her freshman year at Northwest, but as a sophomore she was named to the all-region team as a right side hitter. Stone comes to Campbellsville after stops at Mid-Continent University and St. Catharine College. At MCU, she started all 32 matches in 2013-14 and was third in total kills with 236, second in hitting percentage with .250, second in digs with 266, and led the team with total blocks 63. At SCC, she posted 250 kills, 165 receives, 336 digs, 86 total blocks, had an attack percentage is .271, and 54 service aces.
Campbellsville doesn't host its first home match until Saturday, Sept. 10. The Lady Tigers will host the Mid-South Conference's newest volleyball member, Life University with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. ET.
