GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Shaun Kampshoff, the lone Tusculum University men's volleyball senior, took part in a record-setting performance by the Pioneers to overcome a talented Edward Waters program in a five-set nail-biter on Friday (Apr. 8) night.
Kampshoff nearly racked up an astounding triple-double: 46 assists, nine digs, and a program-record nine service aces. He also added three kills and two block assists to round out his last match in Pioneer Arena.
The Black and Orange (6-18) won by scores of 25-27, 18-25, 25-20, 25-22, 15-6 to pull off the reverse sweep of the Tigers (9-18). TU's six wins are the most in the program's brief history for a season.
Evens Edouard tallied a match-high 19 kills on a .361 hitting percentage to lead EWU, followed by Daniel Montero with 11 on a .529 clip. Kenyon Haynes dished out 37 assists, while serving specialist Jamesly Metayer landed a pair of aces. Edouard also scooped up a team-best seven digs, just ahead of Bryan Povea. Joelvi Jimenez was credited with five total blocks (one solo, four assists).
Dane Loup fired off a career-high 16 kills on a .344 rate, while Jake Whyte (14) and Colby Landry (10) also reached double-figures. Hunter Walck added to the Pioneers' program-shattering ace number with a career-best five service points. Loup and Taylor West contributed five digs apiece. Shaphar Grant finished with six total blocks (four solo, two assists).
Edward Waters hit over .350 in each of the night's first two sets to pull ahead early before Tusculum rallied in the final three.
The Tigers used seven kills and four digs from Edouard in their frame one victory. EWU shot out to a 6-2 advantage before some unforced error brought TU right back into it. Edward Waters used four-straight points to manage a 23-19 margin. After a Tusculum timeout, the Pioneers used a block, an EWU error, and a Walck ace to force a timeout from the visitors. TU fought off two set-points, but were unable to make it three.
EWU capitalized on a negative Tusculum hitting percentage and nine attack errors for its largest set win of the match. The Tigers brought their momentum into the second frame by taking the first four points. TU was able to take a 12-10 heading into an Edward Waters timeout. However, the next six points went to the visitors. The Tigers split points with the Pioneers until a three-score spurt closed the set.
Looking to avoid being swept on Senior Night, Tusculum stepped up its play and hit fiery .522 in the third set. Kampshoff landed four aces in the frame to help his own cause, while Grant contributed a pair of solo blocks. TU used mini runs of three or four to steadily widen the gap. Kampshoff served up back-to-back aces as part of a pair of spurts. The Pioneers dealt the final blow toward the end of the set, taking 5-of-6 points, including two kills by Loup.
Tusculum racked up 16 kills to even the match at two-all and force a decisive fifth set. Loup, Whyte, and Landry each landed five kills in the effort. The Pioneers got out to an 8-3 advantage behind consecutive aces by Whyte, but Edward Waters creeped back in, trying the frame at 22-22. Whyte collected a kill, followed by a Tiger attack error. Landry closed the set with a kill.
The fifth set was all Tusculum as the Pioneers hit .714 for five kills on seven swings, all with no attack errors. Five points were also via aces, including four from Kampshoff. Edward Waters was gifted the first point on a rotation error by TU, but the next seven went to the home team. A kill by Loup followed Grant's solo block. Kampshoff's aces all came in a row. Whyte added two kills and an ace. Landry forced a Tiger timeout at 13-6. Kampshoff and Walck combined for a block and Landry clinched the comeback with one final strike.
Edward Waters ended the match with a .341 hitting percentage with 47 kills and 16 attack errors on 91 total attempts. Tusculum totaled 54 kills, 23 errors, and 115 swings for a .270 hitting percentage. The Pioneers led the match in assists (52-44), aces (18-6), and total blocks (8-7), while the Tigers collected more digs (28-26).
Tusculum finishes up the regular season at Lincoln Memorial on Saturday (Apr. 9) with first serve from Mary Mars scheduled for 2 p.m.
