High Point, N.C. – The Fighting Camels were unable to repeat as Big South conference champions as they fell in three sets to second-seeded High Point Sunday afternoon in the conference championship match. Campbell lost both the second and third sets by the minimum two points.
Campbell, the regular season champion, concludes the season with a 19-11 overall record.
Melody Paige and Claranne Fechter each earned spots on the all-tournament team for their play this weekend.
"Every year we're making history," head coach
Greg Goral said. "A ten-game win streak, one of the longest in the history of the school, to win a regular season title for the first time in school history, I couldn't be more proud of this group. One match won't define us."
Service errors plagued CU all season and did so again today, as the Camels committed 12 on the afternoon. The Camels hit .137 for the match while HPU hit .189.
Gwen Wolkow turned in arguably her best offensive performance of the season with 11 kills on a season-high .529 hitting mark. The freshman also chipped in 10 digs for her fourth double-double of the season, and the only one to come in three sets.
High Point took an early 1-0 lead by stifling the Campbell attack for a 25-17 set win. The Camels hit -.088 in the first frame as the Panthers put up five blocks. Campbell also hurt itself from the service line committing four errors in the opening stanza alone.
The Panthers added to their lead with a narrow 26-24 win in the second set. Campbell trailed by five late at 22-17, but used a 6-1 run to even things at 23 all. It was clean volleyball from both sides down the stretch the set's final nine points, and 14 of the last 15 scored via kill.
Campbell had its chances to prolong the match in the third set but couldn't take advantage. The Camels held set point at 25-24, and later had the score even at 26-26, but High Point held off the charge each time en route to a 28-26 final set win.
The loss marks the end of an era for Campbell volleyball, as the Camels next match will feature a new patch on the sleeve with Campbell's upcoming move to the Colonial Athletic Association. Campbell will try to dethrone Townson in 2023, a squad that has won four straight CAA Championships.
