BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The Fighting Camels kicked off the 2022 campaign with an exhibition against Liberty Saturday afternoon at Gore Arena. Campbell won two of the five sets played, taking the second and fifth frames.
 
Liberty took the first set 25-22, before Campbell took the second by the same score. The Flames won the next two sets to win the match 25-20 and 25-12. Campbell won the agreed-upon fifth set 15-12.  
 
The first three sets offered the best look at what Campbell may look like for the regular season, playing with its traditional 6-2 system. The starting lineup featured a pair of freshman, Maddie Converse and Gwen Wolkow, alongside veterans Claranne Fechter, Chloe Cook, Melody Paige, Ananda Patterson and Lailah Green.
 
Paige, Patterson and Wolkow all posted eight kills each to tie for the team high. The Camels were not particularly efficient, hitting only .090 on the afternoon as a team. However, middle blockers Paige and Patterson hit .421 and .375, respectively. Converse dished out a team-high 17 assists in just three sets played, while Emily Mitter added 13.
 
On defense, Lailah Green notched a team-high 14 digs with Fechter adding 10. Paige came up big at the net with a hand in seven blocks.
 
With one scrimmage in the books, the Camels can now turn their attention to the regular season, set to get underway next Friday in Charlotte. Campbell opens up against Syracuse Friday at noon in the first game of a doubleheader. The Camels return to action that evening to face Morgan State.
 
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