CHARLOTTE – Over 12 hours went by from first serve to the final point of the day, as the resilient Camels won both matches against UNC Asheville and Queens on the first day of the Queens Fall Classic. Campbell got past the Bulldogs in four sets in the morning, and needed five to defeat the host in the nightcap.
 
Campbell has now won five matches in a row to move to 6-2 on the season, already matching the season win total from 2024. The win streak is Campbell's longest since winning five straight on two occasions during the 2023 season.
 
UNC Asheville Recap
Campbell won its fourth match in a row and eighth straight over UNC Asheville with a 3-1 win to kick off the Queens Fall Classic. 
 
Campbell jumped out to an early 1-0 lead by taking the first set 25-16. The Camels used a 9-1 run in the middle stages to distance themselves from the Bulldogs. The offense had its way during the run with eight of the nine points coming via kill. 
 
The Camels started the second set hot scoring the first four points and led by as many as 14 in the frame en route to a 25-15 set win. It was the defense to set the tone in the second set, holding UNC Asheville to hitting below zero in the frame with only four kills.
 
Campbell couldn't seal the deal in straight sets, dropping the third 25-21. Asheville's offense got back on track in the set and hit a match-high .355 to keep the match alive. 
 
Victoria Tupy logged a career-high 17 kills on .361 hitting. She surpassed her previous best of 13 kills recorded last season at Hampton. 
 
Gwen Wolkow led the way with 14 digs, while Hannah Pattie handed out 27 assists. 
 
The Camels hit .259 for the match, the second-best mark of the season. As a team, Campbell has averaged 15.3 kills/set over the last two matches. 
 
Queens Recap
The shorthanded Camels, missing Maja Daca who sustained an injury during the first match of the day, found a way to grind out a five-set victory over Queens late Friday night.
 
Campbell claimed the opening set behind a hot start from Gwen Wolkow. The senior tallied six kills on .666 hitting without an error. Trailing 21-20, the Camels closed strong and scored four of the final five points to claim the opener 25-22.
 
Queens flipped the script in the second set, mounting a late comeback to steal the second set. Campbell led 23-19 but allowed the Royals to close with a 7-1 run to take the second set 26-26.
 
The Royals added to their lead taking the third set 25-19. The hosts never trailed and hit a match-best .257 in the frame.
 
Campbell got back on track in the fourth set to take it 25-19. Victoria Tupy closed the set with three aces in the set's final four points to force a deciding fifth set.
 
The fifth set was another battle, with Campbell coming out ahead 16-14. With things tied at 14-14, Maddie Lambers put away an overpass before a Queens attacking error gave Campbell the two-point advantage and the victory.
 
The Camels hit .248 on the night and held Queens to .183.
 
Campbell's defense controlled the net, as Aley Clent tied a career-best with 9 blocks and Hailey Heytvelt tallied a new career high with 8 blocks. The duo guided Campbell to a season-best 16 total blocks, its most since also recording 16 against Queens last season.
 
Gwen Wolkow led the offense with 19 kills on .313 hitting, a season-high for the senior.  Tupy continued her big day, again finishing in double figures with 12 kills.
 
Looking Ahead
Campbell returns to action tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock to face The Citadel in the final match of the Queens Fall Classic.