CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Campbellsville University opened Saturday's match by hitting .520 in a commanding first-set victory, but Columbia College recovered to defeat the Tigers 15-25, 25-21, 26-24, 25-21 at Gosser Gymnasium.
- Campbellsville finished with advantages in kills, 58-47; hitting percentage, .219-.182; digs, 66-60; and total blocks, 12-9, but 11 service errors and seven reception errors helped Columbia reverse the match after the opening set.
- The Tigers delivered their most efficient set of the season's home schedule to date in the opener, recording 14 kills with one error on 25 attacks for a .520 hitting percentage. Campbellsville also produced five total blocks while holding Columbia to a .062 clip.
- Libby Erwin led Campbellsville with 16 kills and 10 digs, recording her double-double on 49 attacks. She supplied five kills in the opening set and four in the second.
- Brooke Hager totaled seven kills with one error on 12 swings, hitting .500 while adding six block assists, nine digs, and an ace. Elif Akcivi also contributed seven block assists as Campbellsville amassed 24 block assists.
- Kati Vest directed the offense with 44 assists, averaging 11 per set, and converted all four of her attacks for a .571 hitting percentage. She added six digs, an ace, and a block assist.
- Kaytlin Miller provided an efficient lift in the final set, recording five kills with one error on nine attempts for a .444 hitting percentage. Four of her kills came as Campbellsville built a 16-10 advantage.
- Campbellsville led the fourth set 18-14 before Columbia used a 5-0 run to move ahead. The Cougars closed the match by taking 11 of the final 14 rallies.
Columbia scored the first three points of the opening set before Campbellsville settled into the match. Kills from Akcivi and
Sophie Hill helped the Tigers draw even at 8, then Hager's service rotation produced six consecutive points and a 14-8 Campbellsville advantage.
Akcivi and Hill combined on two blocks during the run; Hill delivered consecutive kills, and Akcivi added another termination. Vest later served an ace as the Tigers extended the margin to 17-9.
Campbellsville maintained control behind Erwin and Akcivi, who combined for five of the Tigers' final eight kills. Erwin delivered consecutive terminations to reach set point before a Columbia attack error completed the 25-15 victory.
The teams exchanged short runs early in the second set before Columbia built a 13-9 advantage. The Tigers reduced the deficit to 18-17 on Hager's ace, but Viola Giangreco ended the run with a kill.
Columbia then scored four straight points to move ahead 23-18. Campbellsville answered with three consecutive points, receiving kills from
Riley Thorne and Erwin, but Giangreco supplied a kill before an attack error finished the Cougars' 25-21 set.
Campbellsville erased an early 5-1 deficit in the third set, scoring six straight points behind
Marisa Gallardo's serve. Thorne and Erwin contributed kills, while Thorne and Hager combined on a block before Hager's termination put the Tigers ahead 7-5.
The Tigers extended their advantage to 16-12, but Columbia answered with five consecutive points and later built a 23-19 lead. Campbellsville responded again, using kills from Vest, Hill, and Akcivi to tie the set at 23.
After the teams traded points, Giangreco gave Columbia a 25-24 advantage before a Campbellsville attack error ended the extended set 26-24. The Tigers recorded 16 kills in the frame but committed 12 attacking errors and hit .080.
Campbellsville regained momentum in the fourth, turning an 8-8 tie into a 16-10 advantage. Miller recorded four kills during the stretch, Gallardo served an ace, and Erwin and Hager combined on a block.
The Tigers remained ahead 18-14 after a Hager kill, but Columbia scored five straight points to take a 19-18 lead. Akcivi tied the set with a kill before the Cougars claimed six of the final eight rallies, closing the 25-21 set on consecutive Campbellsville attack errors.
Erwin led Campbellsville with 16 kills and 10 digs, Akcivi added 10 kills and seven block assists, and Hill finished with nine kills and six block assists. Vest distributed 44 assists, while Gallardo and
Celestina Retumban collected 15 digs apiece as the Tigers moved to 18-8 overall.
