Charleston, S.C. – Campbell earned its first five-set win of the season at Charleston Southern Saturday afternoon.
Melody Paige had another career day to pace both the offense and defense en route to a 2-0 start to Big South play.
After notching a career-high 18 kills yesterday, Paige reset the mark with 19 kills on .455 hitting. The senior made it a double-double pitching in 10 blocks. Paige now has double figure kills in three of the last four matches.
Charleston Southern won a close opening set 25-23. The frame was filled with offense as each team hit well over .300. Campbell hit .393 while CSU hit .345. The Camels led at 15-12 but allowed the Bucs to put together a 9-1 run to take the lead. The Camels evened things up at 22, but three kills from Peyton Thompson closed out the set for CSU.
Campbell evening things up with a 25-21 second set. The Camel defense came up big in the set holding the Bucs to hitting -.026, allowing only 10 kills and forcing 11 errors. Campbell was in control the whole way, never trailing in the set and leading by as many as seven.
The Bucs retook the lead after a 25-17 third set. It was close in the early going, but a big run put them up by seven at 17-10 and were able to keep the Camels at bay the rest of the way. Campbell held CSU to hitting just .032 in the set, but the Campbell offense posted a mark of -.107 itself in the third.
Campbell forced a deciding set by taking the fourth 25-17. The Camel attack came back to life in a big way hitting .371 in the fourth while still holding CSU to .105.
Chloe Cook had her best set of the day in the fourth with four kills on .500 hitting.
Paige was at her best when it counted most, logging six kills in the short final set. The Camels never trailed in the final set and led by as many as five. CSU pulled close late, but Campbell held on for the 15-13 win.
In addition to Paige, freshmen
Gwen Wolkow and
Aley Clent had eight kills each.
Emily Mitter handed out 26 assists and Fechter posted 15 digs.
Campbell returns home next weekend to face Presbyterian on Friday night and USC Upstate Saturday afternoon.
