CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — The #4 Campbellsville University men's volleyball team hosted the Brescia University Bearcats on Tuesday night at Gosser Gymnasium. Engaging in a highly competitive, back-and-forth battle, the Tigers were able to secure a gritty victory in a three-set sweep over the Bearcats (30-28, 25-21, 25-20).
- It was a dominant night from the pins for the Tigers, as freshman Savvas Christou and sophomore Luke Stracener both recorded double-digit kills, putting down 13 and 11 kills, respectively, while Ayoube Hamadache added nine.
- Junior middle blocker Pedro Zavatini was highly efficient, pouring in six kills on a match-high .625 hitting percentage while adding four blocks.
- Freshman middle blocker Camilo Fernandez also made noise from the middle, thriving defensively and registering a team-high six blocks (two solo, four assisted).
- Junior setter Alonzo Vega seamlessly operated the offense with another impressive night, dishing out a match-high 38 assists, while serving specialist Sebastian Cardona fired off a team-best three aces.
- The Tigers will continue conference play on the road on Friday, March 27th, against the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Pomeroys.
The opening frame started with both teams trading side-outs for consecutive points, until the Bearcats were able to stretch out a 10-5 lead. Success continued to stay on Brescia's side of the net as the Tigers grew frustrated with the Bearcats' defensive efforts and began committing uncharacteristic attacking errors. However, a terminal kill from middle blocker
Camilo Fernandez sparked a newfound energy for Campbellsville, igniting a six-point run that brought the Tigers back into the game and gave them their first lead at 21-20. Even with the renewed fight from the Tigers, the Bearcats refused to give up, turning the final points of the set into an absolute slugfest. After fighting off multiple set points, the Tigers finally claimed the marathon 30-28 set victory, ending the frame on consecutive blocks from
Denzel Madrigal and
Pedro Zavatini.
Despite suffering a heartbreaking comeback defeat in set one, the Bearcats did not shy away from the battle at the start of the second. The point-for-point frenzy continued as both teams struggled to find a rhythm amid service and attacking errors. With the game tied 11-11, a service error from the Bearcats triggered a six-point run from the Tigers, giving them a comfortable 16-11 cushion. In response, the Bearcats mounted back-to-back three-point runs to challenge the Tigers and knot the score at 17-17. Campbellsville continued to adjust to the adversity. With beautiful ball placement from setter
Alonzo Vega, hitters
Savvas Christou and Zavatini found late success to push the Tigers ahead down the stretch. With serving specialist
Sebastian Cardona stepping behind the line for set point, the Tigers sealed the 25-21 victory with a clutch service ace.
The Tigers were granted the first point of the third set with a seamless connection from Vega to Zavatini for a striking kill out of the middle. Both teams continued to score runs, resulting in a tight game in which the squads repeatedly traded the lead. With Christou walking to the service line leading 20-18, the momentum continued to thrive for the Tigers. The Campbellsville offense found open areas on the court, and Christou did his part by charting a critical ace to extend the gap to 22-18. Fernandez then put an exclamation point on the evening, tallying a towering solo block to end the game 25-20 and secure the sweep for the Tigers.
