ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The #9 Campbellsville University men's volleyball team capped off a flawless weekend in the Show-Me State, taking down Graceland University and the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (UHSP) in back-to-back sweeps Saturday.
- The #9 Campbellsville University men's volleyball team improved to a pristine 6-0 on the season with a pair of 3-0 sweeps over Graceland University and the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (UHSP).
- Opposite hitter Denzel Madrigal powered the offense in the nightcap, slamming down a match-high 12 kills against UHSP.
- Outside hitter Camilo Fernandez led the charge against Graceland with 10 kills on a .316 hitting percentage.
- The Tiger defense was suffocating all afternoon, holding Graceland to a .052 hitting percentage and limiting UHSP to a flat .000 clip.
- Setter Alonzo Vega orchestrated the offense effectively, combining for 57 assists and five service aces across the six sets.
- With the victories, the Tigers improve to 6-0 on the young season, dropping just two sets total through their first six matches.
- Campbellsville wraps up its Missouri road swing undefeated and will return to action Friday, February 6th, in Oakland City, Indiana.
MATCH ONE: Campbellsville 3, Graceland 0
Campbellsville opened the afternoon with a clinical 3-0 sweep of Graceland (25-20, 25-17, 25-13), utilizing a balanced attack and stingy defense.
Camilo Fernandez and
Pedro Zavatini highlighted the offense for Campbellsville in the opening frame. While attack errors late in the set allowed the Yellowjackets to stay within striking distance, the Tigers closed the door decisively. A kill by Fernandez off a feed from
Alonzo Vega secured the 25-20 opening set victory.
The Tigers found another gear in the second set, fueled by aggressive serving.
Ayoube Hamadache sparked a 5-0 run early in the frame to give CU a cushion they would not relinquish. Campbellsville's dominance at the net proved too much for Graceland, as the Tigers hit .368 in the set while suffocating the Yellowjackets' attack to a -.059 hitting percentage.
The third set opened with an avalanche, as Campbellsville raced out to an 8-0 lead behind the serving of Vega, who tallied two aces in the run. Capitalizing on Graceland's passing breakdowns and attack errors, the Tigers cruised to the finish line. Kills by
Savvas Christou and
Luke Stracener ballooned the lead to double digits, and the Tigers coasted to a 25-13 win to complete the sweep.
MATCH TWO: Campbellsville 3, Health Sciences & Pharmacy 0
In the nightcap, Campbellsville maintained its momentum, defeating host UHSP in straight sets (25-17, 25-12, 25-18).
The opening set was a tightly contested battle, with the score knotted at 12-12 midway through. However, the pin hitters took over down the stretch, as Hamadache and
Denzel Madrigal elevated their play to leave the Eutectics behind. A service ace by Madrigal followed by consecutive UHSP attack errors sealed the 25-17 win.
Campbellsville tightened the screws in the second frame, jumping out to an early lead and never looking back. The Eutectics struggled to find a rhythm against the Tiger block and committed costly service errors that halted any momentum. Madrigal, Fernandez, and Christou combined for timely kills to widen the gap, and the Tigers rolled to a commanding 25-12 win.
The final set began as a back-and-forth affair, but the Tigers' depth eventually wore down the hosts. Hamadache and Madrigal continued to attack the Eutectics' defense, pushing Campbellsville ahead for good. The Tigers capitalized on UHSP ball-handling errors and transition opportunities to pull away, securing the 25-18 victory and the team's second sweep of the day.
The men's volleyball team returns to the court on Friday, February 6th, traveling to Oakland City, Indiana, for a neutral-site doubleheader. The Tigers will battle Saint Ambrose University at 10:30 a.m. ET followed by a match-up with Benedictine University Mesa at 5:30 p.m. ET.
