CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Campbellsville University erased sizable deficits and produced three double-digit attackers Tuesday, but Indiana University East prevailed in three sets decided by two points to defeat the Tigers 26-24, 25-23, 21-25, 25-23 at Gosser Gym in the team's home-opener.
- The teams were separated by two points in the first, second, and fourth sets, with Campbellsville winning the third 25-21. The Tigers fell to 13-5 overall, while IU East improved to 7-9.
- Campbellsville held advantages in kills (61-49) and digs (77-69). The Red Wolves offset those margins with 12 fewer attack errors and a .226-.208 advantage in hitting percentage.
- Kati Vest filled the stat sheet with 41 assists, 11 kills, 11 digs, an ace, and a block assist. She committed only one attack error on 15 swings to finish with a match-best .667 hitting percentage.
- Libby Erwin led Campbellsville with 15 kills, while Elif Akcivi recorded 12 kills, 14 digs, and a match-high four aces. Akcivi's serving helped the Tigers mount significant rallies in each of the first three sets.
- Kaytlin Miller provided an immediate lift off the bench, recording 10 kills with two errors on 17 attempts for a .471 hitting percentage in two sets. Eight of those kills came during the fourth set.
- Marisa Gallardo anchored the floor defense with a match-high 21 digs and added three aces. Celestina Retumban contributed 15 digs, and Akcivi added 14 as three Tigers reached double figures.
- Campbellsville hit .375 with 18 kills and three errors in the fourth set, its most efficient frame of the match. IU East answered with 16 kills on a .333 clip and secured the final two points after the Tigers pulled within 24-23.
IU East established a 21-13 advantage in the opening set before Campbellsville mounted a late response behind Akcivi's serve. Akcivi delivered an ace and two kills during the rally, while Erwin added two terminations as the Tigers pulled within 21-19.
The Red Wolves reached set point at 24-21, but Vest produced a kill before consecutive IU East attack errors, the second forced by an Erwin-
Sophie Hill block, tied the frame at 24. IU East recovered with consecutive kills to escape with the 26-24 victory.
Campbellsville responded to an early deficit in the second set with a 9-2 run. Akcivi served three aces, and
Brooke Hager added a kill as the Tigers moved ahead 10-6.
IU East worked back into the set and built a 22-19 lead before Campbellsville again closed the gap. Vest's kill tied the score at 23, but the Red Wolves claimed the final two rallies, including a match-ending block, to take the frame 25-23 and build a two-set advantage.
The Tigers controlled the third set from the service line, receiving consecutive aces from Gallardo and another from
Olivia Hellman while building a 10-3 lead. IU East narrowed the margin to 14-10, but kills from Hager and Vest helped Campbellsville reestablish control at 20-13.
The Red Wolves cut the deficit to 23-20 before Miller stopped the rally with a kill. Miller then delivered another termination to close the set 25-21 and extend the match. Campbellsville finished the frame with 16 kills and held IU East to a .135 hitting percentage.
IU East scored nine of the first 12 points in the fourth, but Miller supplied six kills during Campbellsville's response as the Tigers trimmed the deficit to 16-14. The Red Wolves later moved ahead 23-19 before consecutive IU East attack errors and kills from Akcivi and Hager brought Campbellsville within 24-23.
Alayna Barrett answered with the deciding kill to give IU East the 25-23 set and the match. Erwin led Campbellsville with 15 kills, Akcivi finished with 12 kills and 14 digs, and Vest recorded a triple-double with 41 assists, 11 kills, and 11 digs.
