CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Women's volleyball couldn't cash in early, but the Lady Tigers made up for it late and defeated the University of the Cumberlands tonight in five sets (28-30, 24-26, 25-21, 26-24 and 15-10).
 
Campbellsville (13-6, 4-1) could not convert on six set points in the first two sets and found itself down 2-0 after overtime losses to a team receiving votes in the NAIA poll. Cumberlands (12-5, 4-2) stole the first and second sets.
 
The Patriots held off five set points in the first, playing off a block and an attack error to win, 30-28. In the second the Patriots rallied from a 21-15 deficit to sneak past the Lady Tigers, 26-24.
 
But that's when things started clicking for CU. The Lady Tigers pulled away midway through the third and used a service error to win 25-21. Leading 19-13 in the fourth, Campbellsville squandered its lead before using an Annija Abolina kill to seal a 26-24 win.
 
In the fifth and deciding set, CU had to rally after a ball handling error gave Cumberlands an 8-6 lead. But Abolina and Maria Coelho connected on successive kills to tie it and never trailed after that. The Lady Tigers scored five of the match's last six points.
 
Abolina (30) and Julia Fonseca (20) combined for 50 the teams 76 kills – both career-high's. Coelho added eight, Cassidy Mull finished with nine and Jessie Stone had seven. Mull's nine kills were also a career-high.
 
Jennifer Philpot led Cumberlands with 21 kills and 12 digs.
 
Inoa Fields had 61 assists, a career-high, along with eight digs. Jessie Pendleton had 30 digs. Coelho added 11 digs and Savannah Moss had 10.
 
The Lady Tigers stay at home for a Thursday, Sept. 22 match against MSC opponent the University of Pikeville. Junior varsity starts at 5:00 and varsity's first serve is at 7:00. Live video and stats will be available.
 
You can follow Lady Tiger Volleyball through Twitter @CvilleTigers and @CUTigerVball, on Facebook at Campbellsville Tigers and on the web at www.campbellsvilletigers.com.