MURRAY, Ky. - Senior Jessica Sabath recorded a match-high 23 kills but it wasn't enough as the Eastern Kentucky volleyball team fell 3-1 (30-23, 13-30, 27-30, 27-30) this afternoon at Murray State. With the loss, the Colonels drop to 9-11, 2-4 while the Racers improve to 13-3, 5-1 in the conference.

For the Colonels, senior Denise Grundhoefer had 16 kills and sophomore Bridget Mustard added 13. Junior Brittany Nobilio won the battle between the league's top liberos with 28 digs, while senior Kelly Jennings had 20.

In game one, after a 9-9 tie, Eastern Kentucky pulled ahead off a Sabath kill. Freshman Liza Kelley's back-to-back service aces gave the Colonnels a 20-14 edge before Eastern coasted to the 30-23 win.

Murray State dominated the second game, taking a double-digit lead (19-9) following a Colonel error, and outscored Eastern 11-4 to take the win.

Eastern Kentucky fell behind in game three but got within one point with a kill from Grundhoefer but the Racers put the contest away with a block solo.

Game four was close as there were 11 ties and six lead changes with the final knotted score coming at 27-72. Murray State scored the final three points, off an attack error and two consecutive kills, to capture the match.

The Colonels face Jacksonville State on Friday, October 13 at 8 p.m.