CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The Campbellsville women's volleyball team is off to its best start in program history since 2005 as the Lady Tigers moved to 8-0 with a 3-0 win over Asbury University on Thursday night from Powell Athletic Center.
 
Annija Abolina finished with a match-high 14 kills for Campbellsville (8-0), while Maliyah Tela finished with 41 assists. Katie Johnson was one kill shy of a double-double with nine kills and 11 digs. Julia Thompson led the Eagles (5-2) with 11 kills, while Bailee Settle notched 12 digs.
 
The Lady Tigers used an early 3-0 spurt in the opening set to take a 6-3 lead, but Asbury rallied and scored the next five points to go ahead, 8-6. The seesaw battle continued throughout the first set, as there were a total of 11 ties and six lead changes.
 
After Campbellsville took an 18-17 lead, the Lady Tigers never looked back as they led the rest of the opening set en route to a 25-20 win.
 
Campbellsville took control of the second set early jumping out to a 6-2 lead and it extended the lead to 12-5. The Lady Tigers led throughout the second set as they took their largest lead of 10 points three different teams over the final five rallies. Campbellsville won the second set, 25-15 to take a 2-0 lead in the contest.
 
Asbury jumped out on the front foot to start the third set, but the Eagles could only lead by as many as two points. The Lady Tigers tied the match seven times, but they were never able to take the lead over the first 16 rallies. Campbellsville finally took the lead at 9-8, and the Lady Tigers never trailed for the remainder of the match.
 
Despite never regaining the lead, the Eagles tied the score six more times to round out the match. The largest lead for both teams in the set was two points.
 
Asbury pulled within one point three times after the score was tied at 20. Julia Thompson recorded a kill for Asbury to make 24-23 in favor of the Lady Tigers, but Tela sealed the victory for Campbellsville as she surprised the Eagle defense with a kill to win the set, 25-23.
 
The Lady Tigers notched a .274 attacking percentage, while holding the Asbury to .083 hitting in the match.
 
Campbellsville's 8-0 start to begin the season is the best start in program history since 2005.
 
The Lady Tigers are back in conference action on Tuesday night as they host No. 18 Georgetown College at 7 p.m. ET inside the Powell Athletic Center.

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