COLUMBIA, Ky. – The Lady Tigers of Campbellsville University (7-2, 3-0 MSC) visited the Blue Raiders of Lindsey Wilson College (6-8, 2-2 MSC) on Wednesday night for a Mid-South showdown. The first set came down to the wire, but Campbellsville would roll and win the rival game in three straight sets.
Campbellsville entered the match in first place in the conference while Lindsey Wilson was in fifth. The Blue Raiders came into the matching boasting the conference setter of the week though and receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 National Rankings.
The Lady Tigers opened up a big lead midway through the first set forcing the Blue Raiders to take a timeout and make some adjustments. Just as the Campbellsville seemed to be in control, Lindsey Wilson burst back and went ahead at 18-20. The Lady Tigers clawed their way back into the lead though forcing the Blue Raiders to their last timeout. Campbellsville was pushed into extra points but they secured victory 26-24. Leading the way for the Lady Tigers was
Cierra Merrick and
Molly Shannon with four kills each. Campbellsville's defense held Lindsey Wilson's offense to a struggling .096 hitting percentage.
In the second set, the Lady Tigers pounced on the Blue Raiders early and built a 17-10 lead using a suffocating defense not allowing a hit to get past the front row, and if it did, the back row dug it fiercely.
Molly Shannon continued to shine for CU, this time defensively as she added five more digs to add to her total of nine through two sets.
Andrea Laboy and
Taylor Thacker combined for 15 digs too. The Lady Tigers defense held the Blue Raiders offense to a lowly .065 hitting percentage while producing a .461 hitting percentage of their own. Campbellsville took the set, 25-16.
For set three, Campbellsville came out swinging and held the advantage the whole way. Midway through the set, the Lady Tigers received a serve from the Blue Raiders that sailed high and tight on the net. However, setter
Paige Merrick made it look too easy setting the ball one handed to Jayln Michaels who sent a searing shot down the line to give the Lady Tigers the point. That play gave the momentum to Campbellsville as they built a twelve-point lead and complete control of the set. A service error by the Blue Raiders, a kill by
Molly Shannon and a kill by
Cierra Merrick would seal the match for the Lady Tigers, 25-14.
"I am thoroughly impressed with how our team handled this intense match-up on the road. The defense really stepped up and each defender stepped up their play to hold Lindsey Wilson's offense down. As I always say, defense wins, but when the offense matches what the defense does, we are impossible to beat. I think that was what we accomplished tonight, and I am excited about this upcoming weekend", said Coach Johnston.
The Lady Tigers improved their record to 8-2 and 4-0 MSC and maintain first place in the conference standings. The Lady Tigers will be on the road this coming weekend as they participate in the Holiday Inn Express Invitational in Illinois.
