Pioneers Drop Two Matches to Open 2025 Volleyball Season

Campbellsville, KY – Host Campbellsville opened the 2025 season with a .388 hitting percentage en route to a 25-15, 25-16, 25-14 win over Spartanburg Methodist College at the Roar and Raid Invite on Friday. The Trojans were led by Emily Aabye, who recorded a match-high 12 kills with a .286 hitting percentage and added four service aces.

Campbellsville scored four of the first five points in the opening set. The Pioneers' first kill of the season came from Kendall Meinders, closing the gap to 5-4. A 6-1 run by the Trojans kept the home team in control for the remainder of the set.

In set two, Campbellsville raced out to a 10-1 lead and never trailed. The third set was the most competitive of the match, but an 8-2 run in favor of the Trojans proved decisive. Meinders led the Pioneers with seven kills, while Tristan Craine paced the offense with 14 assists and contributed three block assists.

In the second match of the day, SMC fell to IU Southeast by scores of 25-14, 25-22, 25-18. The Grenadiers opened set one with a 9-3 lead. SMC cut the deficit to 15-13, but three unanswered points halted the rally.

Set two was one of the most tightly contested of the day, featuring 10 ties. With the score knotted at 12, back-to-back kills from Meinders and Hana Vucinic sparked a 10-3 run, giving SMC a 22-15 advantage. However, IU Southeast rallied to take the set.

The Grenadiers opened set three with a 6-2 run and led the rest of the way. The set also marked the first collegiate action for Pioneers freshmen Heather Danforth and Gracie Gabbert.

Vucinic and Meinders each tallied five kills for SMC. Craine added 12 assists, while Katherine James chipped in with 11 assists.