CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Campbellsville University rebounded from an opening-set loss and captured three consecutive frames, including two extended sets, to defeat Cumberland University 22-25, 27-25, 30-28, 25-22 in Mid-South Conference play Friday at Gosser Gymnasium.
- Campbellsville improved to 18-7 overall and 4-2 in conference play, pulling even with Cumberland in the Mid-South standings. The Tigers secured their first victory after consecutive conference road losses.
- The Tigers won consecutive extended sets to reverse the match, taking the second 27-25 and the third 30-28. Campbellsville fought off Cumberland's rally from a 24-21 deficit in the second, then erased a five-point deficit during the third.
- Libby Erwin led Campbellsville with 18 kills and 20 points, adding nine digs, two aces, and two assists. She produced nine kills in the third set and supplied three more in the fourth.
- Sophie Hill recorded seven kills with one error on 14 attacks, finishing with a team-best .429 hitting percentage. She added one solo block and five block assists, giving her 10.5 points.
- Brooke Hager contributed across the front row and from the service line with six kills, five total blocks, and three aces. Her 12.5 points ranked second among the Tigers.
- Kati Vest directed the offense with 35 assists while adding three errorless kills on eight attacks, eight digs, and two block assists. Campbellsville recorded 44 assists on its 45 kills.
- Campbellsville's defense held Cumberland to 10 kills and a .000 hitting percentage in the fourth set. Marisa Gallardo anchored the floor defense with a match-high 22 digs, while Celestina Retumban added 13.
The teams traded short runs throughout the opening set before Cumberland created separation late. Campbellsville pulled even at 21 on a Hager ace, but the Phoenix claimed four of the final five rallies to take the set 25-22.
Campbellsville responded at the net in the second. After Cumberland built an 8-5 advantage, the Tigers forced four attack errors during a five-point run behind Hager's serve, with Akcivi, Hill, and Vest contributing to three blocks that moved Campbellsville ahead 10-8.
The Tigers stretched their lead to 21-16 before the Phoenix worked back into the set. Campbellsville reached set point at 24-21 on Erwin's kill, but Cumberland scored three straight points and later tied the frame again at 25. A Phoenix service error gave Campbellsville another opportunity before an attack error completed the 27-25 victory.
Cumberland established a 17-12 lead in the third, but Campbellsville responded with five consecutive points behind
Olivia Hellman's serve. Hager contributed a kill and a solo block during the run, while Erwin supplied consecutive terminations to tie the set at 17.
The teams exchanged points through ties at 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28. After the Phoenix moved ahead 28-27, Hager answered with a kill, a Cumberland attack error gave Campbellsville set point, and
Riley Thorne finished the 30-28 victory. Campbellsville totaled 19 kills and hit .271 in the frame.
The Tigers scored the first three points of the fourth behind Retumban's serve and maintained an advantage until Cumberland tied the set at 14. Consecutive kills from Vest later put Campbellsville ahead 19-17, but the Phoenix answered with three straight points to take a 20-19 lead.
Campbellsville regained control with three consecutive points, receiving a kill from Hill and forcing two Cumberland errors. The Phoenix tied the set at 22 before another attack error gave the Tigers the lead, a Thorne-Hill block produced match point, and Thorne delivered the deciding kill for a 25-22 victory.
Erwin paced Campbellsville with 18 kills, while Akcivi and Hill each added seven. Vest finished with 35 assists and eight digs, Gallardo collected 22 digs, and Hager totaled six kills, five blocks, and three aces as the Tigers returned to the conference win column.
