BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Tigers battled fiercely in the Mid-South Conference Championship, but the undefeated, #1-seeded Cumberlands Patriots held strong, closing out the match with a four-set victory.
- Though the Tigers fell in four sets (17-25, 21-25, 25-22, 15-25), they inflicted the Patriots' first conference set loss in Cumberlands' season.
- Riley Thorne was a dominant force at the net, hammering a team-high 14 kills on an incredible .481 hitting percentage while adding six total blocks (one solo, five assists).
- Elif Akcivi posted a double-double with 15 kills and 12 digs.
- Kati Vest also secured a double-double, directing the offense with 40 assists and 16 digs.
- After dropping the first two sets, the Tigers showed immense resilience by winning the third set 25-22 to extend the match.
Cumberlands struck first, but
Sophie Hill wasted no time getting to work with two early kills for Campbellsville.
Elif Akcivi followed with another to tie things at 6–6. The Patriots responded with a 7–1 run, forcing the Tigers to call a timeout down 13–7. Out of the break,
Riley Thorne delivered key kills and
Olivia Hellman added an ace, but Cumberlands held on to take the opening set 25–17.
Akcivi opened the second set with a kill, and a huge block from
Madison Farmer ignited the Tiger bench. The defense answered the call midway through the set, sparking a massive 7-1 run fueled by five blocks (including three involving
Riley Thorne) to take their first lead at 17–16. But the Patriots closed strong, winning the set 25–21.
The third set opened with back-and-forth exchanges, knotted at 4–4 early.
Angi Gstach delivered a momentum-shifting kill, and Hill continued her strong play. Both defenses locked in as the frame reached 15–15.
Kati Vest fired an ace, Thorne stayed unstoppable, and
Maddie Pennington added another ace to help seal the set 25–22 for Campbellsville.
Campbellsville came out firing in the fourth, with Thorne and Hill contributing early. The Patriots answered fast, tying the set at 5–5. Cumberlands' aggressive serving, including three aces, stretched the Tigers out of system. Despite CU's fight, the Patriots pulled away to secure the set 25–15 and the match.
