PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. – After sweeping their way through the pool play matches, the Tigers entered the NCCAA Invitational Championship match needing to dethrone the reigning NCCAA Champions, Ottawa University Arizona (OUAZ).
 
In a battle fought back and forth, the Tigers found themselves with their backs against the wall, trailing 2-1 before winning sets four and five to be named the 2020 NCCAA National Invitational Champions.
 
Campbellsville came out in the first set with a steady attack, hitting for .320 behind three kills from both Rafael Cruz and Yannik Ahr, to win the set 25-19. The pair of Cruz and Ahr ended up finishing the day leading the Tigers in kills with 13 and 14 respectively.
 
In set two, however, the Spirit of OUAZ slowed the Tiger offense, limiting them to just five kills, on 31 attacks, to give CU a -0.097 hitting percentage in the set. While their defense stood tall, the Spirit's offense picked up as well, as they hit for 0.241, their best in the match. OUAZ ultimately took the second 25-15.
 
Once again, limiting the Tiger attach to just 0.065, the Spirit and Tigers battled back and forth before OUAZ sought a two-point advantage at 26-24, one set away from the NCCAA title.
 
With their backs against the wall, CU trailed for much of the fourth set, but maintained within striking distance before capturing their first set lead, 17-16, before clawing to force a fifth set, 26-24.
 
After a momentous fourth set win, the Tigers carried that into the fifth, quickly jumping out to a 10-4 lead. OUAZ then began fighting their way back into the set, forcing the Tigers to call a timeout, leading 11-9. Out of the timeout, it was all CU as kills from Ahr, Cruz, and Ramon Matos, and a block from Max Strotridge sealed the NCCAA Invitational Title.
 
While being held to a season low, 0.118 hitting percentage, the front line for the Tigers stepped up, recording a season high 16.5 blocks. 
 
Along with his 14 kills, Ahr led way with a career high five blocks. Matos matched that total with five for himself.  Noah Henkel and Ryan Smith closely followed as each picked up season-highs with four blocks.
 
On the backline, a trio of Tigers recorded double-digit digs, led by 15 from John Montalvo. Jose Viera was able to add 11, while Joudiel Poveymirow added 10.
 
This win gives the Tigers their first ever NCCAA Invitational Championship, as they improve to 8-0 on the year.
 
The Tigers was now return to Campbellsville to open up the home portion of their schedule, on Tuesday, Jan. 28^th against Reinhardt University at 7 p.m. ET.