BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The Campbellsville women's volleyball team dropped a five-set thriller to No. 7 Columbia College, but rebounded with a sweep over Indiana Wesleyan University – who is receiving votes – on the first day of the Holiday Inn Express Classic at McHie Arena.
 
Annija Abolina recorded a team-best 23 kills over the two matches for the Lady Tigers (12-3), while Marcella Compeau notched 47 digs. Maliyah Tela guided the Campbellsville offense with 79 assists over the two matches.
 
Columbia 3, Campbellsville 2
 
In a five-set thriller, Campbellsville fell behind early dropping the first two sets. In the first set, Columbia took an early 4-0 lead out of the gate and never looked back. The Cougars stretched its lead to 8-3, and the Lady Tigers pulled within three points multiple times, but could not get any closer as Columbia took the opening set, 25-19.
 
Despite dropping the first set, Campbellsville outhit the Cougars, .229 to .088.
 
The Lady Tigers flipped the script to start the second set and rattled off the first five points and they extended the lead to 9-3. However, Columbia chipped away at its deficit and tied the score at 16. Neither team carried out a long run late in the second set as the final 16 rallies were played within a five-point window.
 
After Columbia took a 23-20 lead – its largest of the set – Campbellsville stormed back and tied the set, 23-23. The Cougars broke the momentum for the Lady Tigers and scored the final two points to steal the second set, 25-23.
 
Trailing 2-0 in the match, Campbellsville got off to another strong start and took an 8-4 advantage. The Lady Tigers expanded their lead to six points, but Columbia did not let the game get out of reach. The Cougars tied the score at 15, but a 4-0 run from Campbellsville helped seal a win in the third set, 25-19.
 
Campbellsville continued to hang on to the momentum and scored the first two points of the fourth set. A back-and-forth battle broke out and the score was tied four times over seven rallies. The Lady Tigers created a little separation and went ahead 9-6, but the Cougars came back and tied the set.
 
With the scored tied 14-14, Campbellsville went on a 5-1 run to regain the lead and the Lady Tiger never looked back. Columbia pulled within a point, 21-20, but Campbellsville scored the final four points of the set to tie the match at two games apiece and force a fifth set.
 
In the final set, the Cougars scored first, but the Lady Tigers compiled a 4-0 run to take a 4-1 edge. Columbia did not back down and tied the match at five and then took a 6-5 lead. The Cougars held a two-point advantage at the turn and they extended their lead to four points.
 
Campbellsville tried to make one more rally and staved off three set points and made it 14-13, but a Lady Tiger attacking error ended the comeback as the Cougars escaped with a 15-13 win in the fifth set and a 3-2 match victory.
 
For the match, Campbellsville compiled 11 total blocks, compared to four from Columbia. Both teams struggled with efficiency on offense with the Lady Tigers hitting .161. overall and the Cougars finished with a .095 attacking mark.
 
Campbellsville 3, Indiana Wesleyan 0
 
Campbellsville rebounded in its second match of the day and edged out Indiana Wesleyan in three sets. The Lady Tigers got off to a strong start and took an early 5-2 lead in the first set. The Wildcats could only pull within one point and Campbellsville led the entire game.
 
With a 24-18 lead, Campbellsville looked to closeout the first set, but the Wildcats scored six-straight points to tie match for the first time at 24 all. The Lady Tigers did not let the first set slip away and they scored the final two points to win the set.
 
Campbellsville continued the strong starts and led 7-3 to start the second set. Indiana Wesleyan cut into its deficit and tied the set at 12 all.
 
The two teams traded points and the score was tied six times over 11 rallies. Neither team strung together a run until the Lady Tigers scored three-straight points to flip a tie a 22 into a set victory at 25-22.
 
After Campbellsville took a 3-1 lead in the third set, the Wildcats scored the next two points to tie the match. The seesaw battle from the second set continued in the third set as the score was tied 13 times in the third set and the lead changed sides six times.
 
The largest lead for the Lady Tigers in the third set – prior to the three-point lead at the end of the match – was two points, while Indiana Wesleyan had its largest lead of two points. With the third set played with a four-point window throughout, Campbellsville closed the match on 5-1 run and won the set, 25-22, to sweep the Wildcats.
 
In the match, the Lady Tigers hit .216 compared to Indiana Wesleyan's .209 attacking percentage.
 
Campbellsville returns to action at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday morning to wrap up the Holiday Inn Express Classic. The Lady Tigers face University of St. Francis at 10 a.m. ET and Indiana Institute of Technology at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Campbellsville Athletics: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Women's Volleyball: Twitter | Facebook