CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – On Saturday, the Tigers hosted the Xavier University Gold Nuggets to conclude their Labor Day tournament. After falling to the Gold Nuggets in the first two sets of the game, the Tigers came striking back through their middle blockers for three sets of unrelenting play, winning the match 3-2.
In the beginning moments of the first frame, the score remained balanced between the teams, staying within two points of one another. As Campbellsville scored ten points on the scoreboard, the Gold Nuggets kept a stronghold on the ball at the net. Xavier took the lead, but the Tigers were swift to strike back. With two back-to-back kills from Morgan Furness, assisted by Camryn Rich, Campbellsville closed the set two points behind the Gold Nuggets, 25-23.
The Gold Nuggets started the second set with a kill. Even though the Tigers scored shortly after, Xavier remained in the lead. Throughout the frame, the Tigers' avid efforts to match the Gold Nuggets on the scoreboard were not enough to gain an advantage over Xavier. Kills from Furness, Zofia Serafinowska, and Brooke Hager brought Campbellsville closer to Xavier's score. Despite the Tigers' fierce offense, the Gold Nuggets took set two, 25-23.
The third frame was set in motion by an attack error from Xavier, putting the first point of the set in the Tigers' favor. Even though the Gold Nuggets quickly retaliated with a kill, Furness landed two back-to-back kills, swiftly earning Campbellsville an early lead in the match. The Gold Nuggets scored a few points in their favor, but the Tigers kept arduous control at the net, impeding Xavier from taking over the set. Throughout the remainder of the frame, Rich's agile assists kept her fellow players, such as Cierra Merrick and Emily Aabye, scoring kill after kill, widening the Tigers' lead. Campbellsville closed the third set with a 25-18 win.
Furness opened the fourth set with a kill assisted by Rich. Even though a service error from the Tigers awarded a point in the Gold Nuggets' favor, the Tigers continued to widen their lead, with Xavier still at one point. Campbellsville kept Xavier trailing from the early stages of the frame. It was not only the Tigers' relentless offensive play that kept them on a substantial lead but also their unyielding defense at the net. With a 13-point advantage, the Tigers won the fourth set over the Gold Nuggets, 25-12.
The fifth set started, with each team holding two won sets. Even though Campbellsville started the last set with a two-point lead, two attack errors from the Tigers tied the scoreboard. However, Merrick and Furness quickly struck with fierce kills that propelled the Tigers upward. As the Tigers stood with a 4-point advantage, Aabye landed a kill that closed the set with a win for the Tigers, 15-10.
Campbellsville finished today's match with a hitting percentage of .231, five aces, and 12.0 blocks, compared to Xavier's .119 hitting percentage, six aces, and 9.0 blocks. Furness and Hager led the team with 17 kills each, Marisa Gallardo with 20 digs, and Rich with 55 assists.
The Tigers will be back in action at home, going against the Eagles of Midway University on September 7th, beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
