PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. — For the second time in 12 hours, Tiger volleyball lost another heartbreaker to Trinity Christian College in five sets, 18-25, 17-25, 25-23, 25-14, 15-17.
After falling late last night, 3-2, Campbellsville (0-3) was unable to complete the rally from being down 2-0.
The Trolls (3-0) took a two set to none lead before Campbellsville rallied to win the third and fourth but it was Trinity Christian who won the fifth in extra sets, 17-15.
The Tigers were led by a career-high 18 kills from
Rafael Cruz and 17 from
Bryce Johnson.
Hunter Monday led the passing attack with 33 assists, while
Keaton Marshall added 15.
After taking a 4-3 lead, Trinity Christian held the advantage the rest of the set. The Trolls led 17-15 and ended the opening set on an 8-3 run and scored six of the last seven points.
Like last night, CU struggled with efficiency in the first few sets, hitting just .053 – nine kills on 38 attacks with seven errors.
In the second set, CU had a match-low hitting percentage of .032 – 10 kills and nine errors and 31 attacks.
Trinity Christian scored the first point and never trailed the rest of the way. The Trolls took a 10-4 lead but Campbellsville answered with a 5-1 run. CU just could not get any closer than a two-point deficit (11-9).
After CU cut the lead to two, Trinity Christian answered with a 3-0 run and the Tigers could not recover. Leading 19-14, the Trolls ended the second by scoring six of the last nine points.
But Campbellsville came alive in the third set with a match-high 17 kills and hit .243. The Tigers led 17-14 but Trinity Christian made a run and took an 18-17 lead. Going back and fourth the next few points,
Max Stotridge and Cruz recorded consecutive kills to secure the victory.
Campbellsville was able to knot the match at 2-2 with its best set of the day. The Tigers finished with just 11 kills on 24 attacks but only surrendered two errors.
CU took control from the get-go, as the Tigers took a 9-4 lead. But Trinity Christian answered to cut the deficit to three, 13-10. Then it was all Campbellsville. CU finished the fourth on a 12-4 run to force a tying-breaking fifth set.
In the fifth, CU got down 10-6 but rallied with a 4-1 run and cut the deficit to 11-10. CU earned match-point with a 14-12 lead but the Tigers couldn't hold on. Trinity Christian scored three straight and five of the next six points to win 17-15.
CU also played Lincoln College in an exhibition on Saturday afternoon but lost 3-0. Campbellsville will now travel to Bluefield College for a conference match on Wednesday, Jan. 25. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.
