WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. - For the second time this season, CU and UC would extend the match to a full five sets. Campbellsville fought off the Patriots to remain unbeaten inside of Mid-South Conference play.
The first set started as any Tiger and Patriot battle did. Each team had a 4-0 run early. With the score locked at 11, Cumberlands went on a 6-0 run to gain all the momentum. They carried the energy and close the set, 25-21. These two mirrored each other in a lot of categories. UC had five service aces, which fueled their fire.
CU saw a 4-1 advantage to start set two.
Camryn Rich found Campbellsville's first two service aces and pick up an assist. The two teams would continue to battle with lengthy rallies and momentum shifts. With Campbellsville leading 21-16, UC clawed back and make it 21-20.
Hannah McGill and
Brooke Hager hammered kills and even the match up at one set each. Campbellsville hit .222, while the Patriots hit .204.
Cierra Merrick tallied eight kills through two sets.
Set three would continue the fight for momentum. Cumberlands had established a four-point lead at 18-14 before Campbellsville started rolling. Merrick caught fire again and smashed five kills and slam the door shut. CU closed out the set on an 11-4 run. Looking at many statistical categories again, the two played very similarly. The Tigers had three more kills on seven more attacks in the set.
University of the Cumberlands flexed their muscle in the fourth and run away with it. The Patriots closed the frame on a 19-8 stint. Once again, UC had five service aces to push the match to a winner-take-all fifth set.
All afternoon, the two teams went kill for kill, pushing the set into an extra frame. Three straight errors by UC had Campbellsville taking the match, 3-2. The Tigers totaled 65 kills, 62 assists, 86 digs and six blocks. Merrick led the way with 17 kills. Hager finished with 13, while Shannon had 11. Seven different Tigers found the kill column.
Camryn Rich ended with another double-double. She had 52 assists and 17 digs.
Campbellsville moves to 14-9 on the season and 8-0 in MSC play. The Tigers play host to Lindsey Wilson for their annual dig pink match on Tuesday October 17th at 7 p.m. ET in Gosser Gymnasium.
