GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Tigers began their weekend stint in Michigan battling the Aquinas College Saints on Friday night. Despite dropping the first set, the Tigers won three straight and took the victory, 3-1.
Aquinas began the first set ahead, as Campbellsville only held two kills in their favor and the Saints neared double digits. Although John-Marcos Gonzalez, Denzel Madrigal, Neels Paugels, and Alvaro Grande did their best to muster a comeback kill after kill, Aquinas took the first frame, 25-19.
The opening minutes of the second set began with the Tigers and the Saints trading kills. However, Campbellsville capitalized from Aquinas' attack errors and clawed their way up the lead. The Saints boosted their control at the net, coming within a couple of points of the advantage, but not enough to catch up with the Tigers. Campbellsville won the second set, 25-22.
Much like the second, the Tigers quickly took control of the third set in the early stages of the frame. Trevor Gruner and Mason McKinney continued to demonstrate Campbellsville's dominance on the court with decisive plays, landing kill after kill. Aquinas' attack errors remained their demise, driving the Tigers' ahead on the advantage. Once more, Campbellsville took the third set, 25-17.
The Tigers' energy coming into the fourth quarter made it clear they intended to make it the last and secure the victory over the Saints. Gruner's service aces brought Campbellsville to double Aquinas' total on the scoreboard. McKinney and Joao Tavares' offensive strikes elevated the Tigers to 20 points as the Saints only then made it to ten. At the end of the fourth, Campbellsville completed their rally, 25-13.
The Tigers finished their first match up north with a hitting percentage of .288 compared to the Saints .126 hitting percentage. They also put together six blocks as a squad. Gonzalez and Paugels led Campbellsville with 13 kills each, Andres Laboy with 19 digs, and Alonzo Vega with 37 assists.
The Tigers will be back in action, continuing their weekend up north in Grand Rapids, Michigan tomorrow, Saturday, February 17th, battling the Cornerstone University Golden Eagles and the Olivet Nazarene University Tigers, beginning at 11 a.m. and then 1 p.m. ET.
