KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Lady Tiger volleyball ran into a buzz saw with Biola University on Saturday afternoon in the NCCAA Championship match, falling in four sets. The Lady Tigers lost 15-25, 25-20, 17-25 and 21-25.
 
Biola (28-7) out-hit Campbellsville (31-10) with 59 kills compared to only 38 for the Lady Tigers – their lowest offensive output all tournament.
 
Senior Annija Abolina led the Lady Tigers with 14 kills to finish her career, while junior Katie Johnson finished with 10 and was two digs away from a double-double with eight. Marcella Compeau and Savannah Moss both registered 10 digs, while Maliyah Tela was one dig away (9) from a double-double with 27 assists.
 
The first set was all Biola, as the Eagles led early 6-1 and then later on 13-7. Campbellsville fell victim to a couple rotation errors and the Eagles registered 13 kills compared to only six kills and seven errors for CU.
 
Campbellsville came alive in the second frame, though. The Lady Tigers pushed a lead to 13-9 and later 19-16 forcing a Biola timeout. But Biola cut that lead to one, 19-18, and coach Amy Zink called her first timeout. CU was able to use its serve to pressure Biola and finish the second set on a stellar 6-2 run.
 
In the third set, Campbellsville got down early once again, 5-1. That was the name of the game in each set tonight… whatever team go down early in the set, struggled to rally and regain a lead.
 
Biola pushed that advantage to seven, 12-5, and later 21-10, but the Lady Tigers wouldn't go down without a fight. CU rallied with a quick 4-0 run forcing the Eagles to call a timeout. That was as close as the Lady Tigers would get, though, falling 25-17.
 
In the fourth frame, both teams were neck-and-neck. Biola led 11-9 but Campbellsville rallied to knot the match at 12-all with a mini 3-1 run. The Eagles answered that run with seven straight points and led 19-12.
 
CU had one final push but it was too little too late. The Lady Tigers were able to cut the deficit to three, 22-19, forcing another Biola timeout. But the Eagles were too much down the stretch, winning 25-22.
 
The runner-up finish is the third in Campbellsville volleyball history (2010, 2016 and 2017).

Abolina and Maria Coelho both earned NCCAA First Team All-American honors, while Abolina earned All-Tournament honors. A separate story will be posted on Sunday, Dec. 3.