CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Campbellsville dropped a hard-fought, four-set thriller to their Mid-South Conference foe Cumberland Phoenix at home Friday afternoon (22-25, 25-22, 24-26, 25-27).
- The match was a battle of razor-thin margins, with every set decided by five points or less and the final two sets going to extra points.
- Libero Maddie Pennington had a spectacular defensive performance, recording a career-high 35 digs.
- The Tigers were aggressive from the service line, firing 14 aces, led by Pennington with six and Olivia Hellman with four.
- Campbellsville's offense was balanced, with three players reaching double-digit kills: Emily Aabye (15), Elif Akcivi (12), and Brooke Hager (10).
In the opening set, Brooke Hager got things going for the Tigers with a kill, followed by an ace from Elif Akcivi. Both teams traded points until the score was tied 15-15. From there, Maddie Pennington delivered three consecutive aces to give Campbellsville an 18-15 lead. However, the Phoenix rallied late, closing the set on a 10-4 run to win 25-22.
Set two saw the Tigers build an early lead behind kills from Aabye and back-to-back attacks from Akcivi. Campbellsville's defense shined, digging up attacks and keeping plays alive. The Tigers held strong against a late Cumberland charge to take the set 25-22 and even the match.
In the third, Cumberland took control, building a 22-15 lead. The Tigers mounted a furious comeback, including a 5-0 serving run from Olivia Hellman, to claw back and tie the set at 24-24. Despite the incredible effort, the Phoenix scored the final two points to take the set 26-24. The fourth set was another thriller. The Tigers fought to earn a set point at 24-23, but the Phoenix once again put together a late run, sealing the match 27-25.
Aabye led the offense with 15 kills, while Hager and Akcivi added 10 and 12, respectively. Pennington's career-high 35 digs anchored the defense.
