GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University men's volleyball team will host five consecutive home matches in Pioneer Arena, starting with a pair of Conference Carolinas squads: Lees-McRae and Belmont Abbey. The Bobcats come to town on Tuesday, while the Crusaders invade Greeneville on Saturday.
RECAPPING THE WEEK
The Pioneers last played on Jan. 16 at nationally-ranked Campbellsville, falling in three sets. Two days prior, Tusculum dropped a four-set decision at North Greenville.
Taylor Phillips earned Off the Block National Freshman of the Week due to his impressive collegiate debut. In his first match as a Pioneer, Phillips registered eight digs and a pair of assists at North Greenville. However, his best outing came against the No. 2 ranked team in the NAIA, Campbellsville. Phillips racked up 12 digs and an assist against the Tigers. In the TU record book, both dig totals are in the top-four of their respective categories. Phillips eight digs in a four-set match is tied for fourth all-time, while the 12 digs are the most in a three-setter in program history.
Overall, Shaun Kampshoff has led the offensive effort with 25 kills, with Colby Landry's 12 next up. At the setting position, Lucas Blanco is credited with 50-of-55 assists in the young season. Kampshoff also heads up the service ace category with a team-best five, followed by a trio from both Blanco and Landry. The dig column is controlled by 20 from Phillips. Caleb Slater has made his presence known at the net with six total blocks (one solo, five assists) against the Tigers.
In the national rankings, Tusculum is sixth in the NCAA in aces per set (1.86), first among the independents. The Pioneers are also 13th in attack per set (24.71) and 14th in digs per set (7.43).
Individually, Kampshoff is ranked in the top-10 in four categories: aces per set (t-2nd; .714), attacks per set (t-3rd; 9.14), kills per set (9th; 3.57), and points per set (10th; 4.36). Meanwhile, Phillips is third in the country with 2.86 digs per set. Blanco's 7.14 assist per set rate is 14th nationally.
LOOKING AHEAD
Lees-McRae (0-1) was swept by Lincoln Memorial in their season-opener and will make a return trip to Tennessee to battle the Pioneers on Tuesday night. Nic Brewster led the Bobcats with six kills, followed by four from Max Kuntz, Ace Backer, and Michael Marsans. As the setter, Bradley Peters dished out 16 assists in the loss. Kuntz and Peters each landed a pair of aces. Defensively, four players for Lees-McRae are credited with two digs: Brewster, Marsans, Peters, and Steven Nalls. Peters claimed the lone block against the Railsplitters, a solo effort.
Belmont Abbey (1-0) beat Limestone in four sets to open up their 2021 season. The Crusaders are set to travel to Queens for a Thursday night contest before squaring off against Tusculum on Saturday afternoon. Andrew Kohut totaled 20 kills on a .378 clip against the Saints, followed by 12 from Tusculum transfer Matteo Miselli. Kohut's 5.00 kills per set ratio is second-best in the NCAA. Brennan Davis handed out 40 of the team's 44 assists in the win, averaging 10.00 per set (tied fourth in the NCAA). Miselli (2) and Riley Mulkey(1) were responsible for the Crusaders' aces. Defensively, Kohut completed a double-double with 10 digs, just ahead of nine from Matthew Maxwell. William Morris was dominant at the net with six total blocks (one solo, five assists).
Links to live stats and video for Tusculum University athletic events can be found through tusculumpioneers.com. Currently, no spectators are allowed at TU home events.
