Valparaiso, Ind. – Campbell's defense led the way to a win over SIU Edwardsville Saturday afternoon to conclude the Popcorn Classic. The front line posted 19 blocks, led by
Melody Paige's career-best 12 en route to a four-set win. The win takes Campbell to 2-4 on the year.
Pagie now has 39.0 total blocks on the year, good for 1.63 blocks/set through the first six matches.
Ananda Patterson was named to the all-tournament team following the tournament. The senior posted 24 kills on .318 hitting along with 11 total blocks through the three matches.
Campbell took an early lead in 25-22 first set. The Camels were efficient in the opening frame committing only three attack errors in the set.
The match was as close as can be over the next two sets with the teams exchanging 26-24 wins. The Camels had a chance to lock up the second set leading 24-21, but the Cougars roared back with five consecutive kills, the final four coming from Savannah Christian to win the set.
Campbell flipped the script in the third trailing 24-22 before reeling off four straight of their own aided by two errors and a block from Paige and
Gwen Wolkow to grab a 2-1 lead.
Another late surge pushed the Camels to the finish line in the fourth set to close out the match. Tied at 19-19, five straight Campbell points provided a cushion and left the Camels just one
Chloe Cook kill away from putting the finishing touches on the match at 25-21.
In addition to Paige's 12 blocks,
Aley Clent put up seven and
Ananda Patterson added six. Seven different Camels recorded at least two blocks on the afternoon. The defense held the Cougars to hitting .083, the lowest of the year by a Campbell opponent.
Cook continued her strong start to the season with a team-high 13 kills. The junior now has double-digit kills in the last five matches.
Emily Mitter led the offense with 17 assists while Wolkow tallied a team-high 10 digs.
Up Next
The Camels stay on the road next weekend as they travel to Lexington, Ky. where they'll face Indiana State and No. 6 Wisconsin.
