GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Program records fell and career-highs were set as Tusculum men's volleyball nearly made a comeback against the visiting Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters on Friday night.
The Railsplitters (2-6, 1-0 IVA) won by scores of 25-15, 25-21, 221-25, 21-25, 18-16 to win over the Pioneers (0-4, 0-1 IVA). This was only Tusculum's second-ever match to go to five sets.
Lincoln Memorial's offense was sparked by double-digit kills from Justin Sharfenaker (15), Cole Campisano (14), and Pedro Carvalho (13). The latter hit a fiery .579 for the match. AJ Risavy was responsible for 45 assists in the win. Three Railsplitters recorded a service ace: Carvalho, Jacob Titus, and Sharfenaker. Defensively, Sharfenaker also led the team with nine digs, followed closely by seven from Campisano. Titus is credited with a team-best four total blocks (one solo, three assists).
Shaun Kampshoff was electric off the bench, firing 17 kills in four sets played. Three Pioneers set career highs in kills: Colby Landry (11), Shaphar Grant (10), and Dane Loup (9). Lucas Blanco racked up 46 assists, the second-most in program history. Loup also landed the first two aces of his young career. Blanco and Kampshoff rounded out the column with one apiece. Taylor Phillips tied his career-high 12 digs, while Landry (9) and Loup (7) set new personal bests. Caleb Slater had a hand in every TU block on the evening, recording seven block assists, a collegiate-high and second-most in TU history. Blanco and Kampshoff also contributed three block assists.
Grant's .533 rate (10 kills/2 errors/15 attempts) has upped the program hitting percentage record (15-19 attempts). Landry's .389 clip (11 kills/4 errors/18 attempts) ranks second-best in the same category.
Tonight's 127 attacks and 56 assists now stand as the most in a match throughout program history. The seven total blocks is a five-set best, as are the 43 digs (second-most all-time). Tusculum's 58 kills are the second-most in a match as well.
Lincoln Memorial ended the match with a .293 hitting percentage with 55 kills and 19 attack errors in 123 total attempts. Tusculum totaled 58 kills, 27 errors, and 127 swings for a .244 hitting percentage. The Pioneers led the Railsplitters in assists (56-48), digs (43-36), and aces (4-3), while the teams tied with seven total blocks each.
Tusculum ends its homestand on Friday (Feb. 12) against Georgetown (Ky.). First serve between the Pioneers and Tigers is scheduled for 7 p.m.
