Tigers exact revenge, grab RSC control w/ 5-set win at Campbellsville

After a tough home loss to Campbellsville on March 17th, Georgetown turned its focus to the remaining RSC schedule to keep pace atop the conference with the goal of exacting revenge on Campbellsville in the rematch. With each team at 13-1 in the standings entering Tuesday, the winner had the inside track to the regular season titleand the #1 seed in the RSC Tournament. The top two teams delivered another instant classic on Tuesday. Georgetown made just enough plays in the end for a 3-2 win to grab control of the league with 1 game to go.

Campbellsville got out to a 6-3 lead in the opening set. Georgetown countered with kills from Finn Heinemann and Miguel Ariza Vega. The pair then combined for a block on the next point to level the set at 6. Heinemann then delivered an ace to give Georgetown a 9-8 lead. Campbellsville countered with 4 unanswered and a 12-9 edge. Georgetown fought back within 1 at 13-12 before Campbellsville went on a 6-1 run to take a commanding 19-13 lead. Georgetown would not relent. Miguel Ariza Vega started a Georgetown run with a kll and tandem block with Heinemann. A CU error and Michal Bak kill capped a rally of 4 straight to get the Tigers within 2. It would be the closest Georgetown would get the rest of the set. Campbellsville kept its pace up and was able to close out the set, 25-21.

The second set was tight in the early going. Georgetown had a 7-6 lead before Campbellsville scored 3 straight for a 2-point lead. It was the first time in the set that either side had led by more than 1. Georgetown was right there for the counter. Adam Szewinski bookended a Finn Heinemann ace with a kill and block for a 3-0 run for the Tigers and a 10-9 lead. CU tied it up but Georgetown scored the next 2. Campbellsville slowly drew closer and eventually moved ahead, 16-15. From there, the set belonged to Georgetown. 2 errors from Campbellsville gave the lead back to GC. A Kristjan Unt kill made it an 18-16 lead. After a serve error, Unt delivered again, followed by Robin Puss. Another Finn Heinemann ace gave Georgetown a 21-17 lead. The Tigers rode the momentum and finished the set on a 10-4 run to win it, 25-20, and level the match.

Campbellsville countered to start the 3rd set by scoring 5 of the first 7. A kill from Michal Bak ignited an 8-2 Georgetown run to give the Tigers a 10-7 lead. From there, the Tigers were able to play defense with the lead. Campbellsville drew within a point 6 times but never could get level or back over the top. The final instance came at 18-17. After a CU serve error, Robin Puss took over with 3 kills as part of a 7-2 run to close out a 25-19 3rd set win and put Georgetown on the brink of a massive road win. The set was the best of the night for the GC offense as the Tigers hit .571 against the vaunted Campbellsville defense.

The start of the 4th set looked like Georgetown was on its way to the win. The Tigers got out to a 6-3 lead, capped by a Ben Meyers ace. Campbellsville then showed it could rally from behind as CU scored 5 of 6 to take an 8-7 lead. Georgetown showed its muscle with its own run of 4-1 to reassume command at 11-9. Campbellsville punched back with a run that Georgetown could not overcome. CU scored 7 of the next 9 to take a 16-13 lead. Adam Szewinski got 1 back but it proved too late. Campbellsville kept the pressure on to ultimately take the set, 25-19, and send the match to its appropriate 5th set finish.

Campbellsville had a slight lead of 8-6 midway through the 5th as the teams were trading points to that juncture. Miguel Ariza Vega brought GC back within 1. Campbellsville got that back to take a 9-7 lead. Georgetown's defense then stepped up as the Tigers forced 3 straight attack errors by Campbellsville to surge ahead, 10-9. The teams traded points again until the set was tied at 11-all. Adam Szewinski gave Georgetown the lead with his 10th and final kill. Miguel Ariza Vega and Robin Puss then paired up for a massive block at the net for a 13-11 Georgetown lead. Campbellsville got 1 back but gave it right back on a serve error to give Georgetown a match point at 14-12. Campbellsville held one off but not the second as Michal Bak smashed his 14th kill to close out the set, 15-13, and bring Georgetown a big step closer to the RSC regular season title.

Michal Bak's 14 kills led the way for the offense and continued his strong form of late. Bak has tallied 115 kills in Georgetown's last 9 matches, dating back to the 1st meeting against Campbellsville. Kristjan Unt put 12 away on the outside. The tandem of Adam Szewinski and Miguel Ariza Vega combined for 19 kills and 7 block assists in the middle. Finn Heinemann proved his two-way prowess in the win. The senior setter finished with 49 assists, 5 digs, 3 aces and 2 block assists.

Georgetown can now clinch the outright regular season title and 1-seed in the RSC Tournament with a win over Cumberland on Friday. Should Georgetown win, the Tigers will also host the semifinals and finals of the tournament. The regular season finale against Cumberland will be played at Great Crossing HS and is set for a 7:00pm start.