CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Campbellsville (KY) produced 63 kills, 12 total blocks, and eight service aces Wednesday to defeat IU Columbus (Ind.) 25-22, 25-27, 25-19, 25-23 at Gosser Gym, improving to 15-5 overall.
- Campbellsville finished with advantages in kills, 63-55, hitting percentage,.267-.200, and total blocks, 12-5. The Tigers committed 17 attack errors on 172 swings while forcing the Crimson Pride into 22 errors.
- Elif Akcivi led all Campbellsville attackers with 17 kills, hitting .341, and added 11 digs, five block assists, and two aces. Her 21.5 points were a match high.
- Campbellsville received 31 kills from its middle attackers, as Sophie Hill and Brooke Hager each totaled 11 while Kaytlin Miller added nine. The trio combined to hit .355 and contribute 15 block assists.
- Miller supplied efficient production after entering the match, recording nine kills with one error on 18 attacks for a .444 hitting percentage. She added three block assists and delivered the final kill in both the third and fourth sets.
- Kati Vest directed the attack with 48 assists, averaging 12 per set, while adding three kills, eight digs, two aces, and a block assist. Campbellsville registered 56 assists on its 63 kills.
- Marisa Gallardo anchored the back row with a match-high 27 digs, five assists, and an ace. Campbellsville finished with 78 digs against an IU Columbus team that entered the match 13-1.
- After dropping an extended second set, Campbellsville hit 382 in the third, committing only two errors on 34 swings. The Tigers also withstood an eight-point IU Columbus run late in the fourth before scoring the final two points.
Campbellsville established an early 12-5 advantage in the opening set behind a balanced attack and pressure from the service line. Hellman and Vest each served an ace, while Hill, Hager, Akcivi,
Riley Thorne, and
Libby Erwin contributed kills during the opening stretch.
IU Columbus answered with a 9-2 run to tie the set at 14, but Campbellsville regained control behind consecutive Akcivi kills and an Erwin termination. The Crimson Pride later pulled within 23-22 before Akcivi delivered her sixth kill of the frame, and an IU Columbus attack error closed the set 25-22.
The teams traded short runs throughout the second set before IU Columbus built a 21-18 advantage. Campbellsville responded with kills from Hill, Erwin, and Akcivi, and an Akcivi-Hager block gave the Tigers set point at 24-23.
IU Columbus denied that opportunity and later moved ahead 25-24. Akcivi tied the set with a kill, but the Crimson Pride claimed the final two rallies to win 27-25 and even the match.
Campbellsville turned to Miller in the third, and she immediately contributed to an efficient offensive performance. Miller recorded four kills in the frame, while Hill added five as the Tigers built leads of 15-8 and 18-10.
IU Columbus reduced the deficit to 22-18, but Hill stopped the run with a kill. After another sideout by the Crimson Pride, Hill delivered her fifth kill of the set before Miller finished the 25-19 decision. Campbellsville totaled 15 kills and hit .382 in the frame.
The Tigers created separation midway through the fourth set, using consecutive kills from Miller and Akcivi to build a 16-11 advantage. Akcivi added three more kills and an ace as Campbellsville stretched the margin to 23-15.
IU Columbus responded with eight consecutive points to tie the set at 23, receiving four kills during the run while benefiting from three Campbellsville attack errors. Miller ended the rally with her ninth kill before combining with Hill on a block that forced the final attacking error and completed the 25-23 victory.
Akcivi led Campbellsville with 17 kills, 11 digs, and five block assists, while Hill and Hager each finished with 11 kills. Miller added nine kills on a .444 hitting percentage, Vest totaled 48 assists, and Gallardo collected 27 digs as the Tigers secured their 15th victory of the season.
