The first match of the day featured a battle between two nationally-ranked teams as 17th-ranked Campbellsville (Ky.) took on the 23rd-ranked MVNU volleyball team. The Lady Tigers (21-2) took the first two games 30-16 and 30-28. Then, the Lady Cougars (25-1) bounced back to take game three 30-15 and game four 30-22.

In the fifth and deciding game, Campbellsville jumped out to a 5-1 lead. Then, the Lady Tigers built a 14-11 cushion and appeared headed to a victory. However, MVNU (25-1) was not to be denied as freshman middle hitter Jackie Albrecht (left) served the Lady Cougars to a 16-14 win.

“I’m so proud of the way the team stuck together and believed that they could come back in this match,” said MVNU head coach Paul Swanson. “Campbellsville is a very good team, but we just did not give up and kept battling. This was a great comeback and a very significant win.”

Senior middle hitter Shena Beheler (right) pounded 17 kills to go with 13 digs and five blocks. Junior outside hitter Audrey Hickinbotham smashed 13 kills, while sophomore outside hitter Courtney Springer posted 11 kills, 14 digs, and four blocks. Albrecht also finished with 10 kills, 14 digs, and 10 blocks, and sophomore setter Kaylin Austen handed out 46 assists. Senior libero Tiffany Milburn also served up four aces.

Needing just one more win to claim the tournament title, the Lady Cougars cruised to a 30-10, 30-10, 32-30 victory over West Virginia Tech (1-21) as every player on the team got into the action. Freshman middle hitter Sarah Yutzy pounded 11 kills, and freshman setter Caitlin Myles registered 14 assists. Albrecht smashed eight kills, while Springer, Hickinbotham, and freshman outside hitter Emily Walsh each finished with five kills apiece. Austen also served up four aces and handed out 22 assists.

“It is always nice to win your own tournament,” said Swanson. “We played well all weekend and are continuing to improve each time out.”

Beheler was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament while she was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Milburn, Austen, and Albrecht. The rest of the All-Tournament Team consisted of Megan Winters from Trinity Christian (Ill.) College, Misty Tarbet and Teresa Masava from Campbellsville, and Emilie York and Jackie Geile from Taylor (Ind.) University.

Taylor finished second with a 3-1 record after sweeping Campbellsville on Saturday 30-21, 30-28, 30-24 and beating Trinity Christian 28-30, 30-21, 30-13, 30-21. Campbellsville was third at 2-2, while Trinity Christian defeated West Virginia Tech 30-16, 30-23, 30-21 to finish fourth at 1-3 with West Virginia Tech finishing 0-4 for the weekend.

The Lady Cougars, who have now won 13 straight matches, will return to action on Tuesday night with an American Mideast Conference South Division match at Urbana University at 7:00 p.m.