DEKALB, Ill. – With a double-double from senior Jessica Sabath, the Eastern Kentucky volleyball team recorded a 3-0 (30-18, 30-24, 30-25) shutout victory over Western Illinois this afternoon in the NIU Comfort Inn & Suites Invitational. The Colonels, with their first win of the 2006 season, even their mark at 1-1 while the Westerwinds fall to 0-2.

Sabath led the Colonels with 17 digs and added 11 kills. Junior Amy Arlinghaus paced the squad for the second straight match with 12 kills and junior Shelly George and senior Kasha Brozek each blocked four Western Illinois attack attempts.

In game one, after the score was knotted at four, Eastern Kentucky went ahead to claim the commanding 12-point victory. The Colonels ended the first game with a 7-1 scoring run, highlighted by a trio of kills from Sabath.

The Colonels continued their strong play in the second game, never trailing and holding as much as a ten-point lead as freshman Abbey Blank served five straight EKU points.

In game three, the Colonels jumped ahead with a 5-1 lead and held a 20-9 advantage following a pair of Arlinghaus kills and two service aces from senior Kelly Jennings. Eastern earned the game-winning point with a Westerwind setting error.

Ashley Baker led Western Illinois with ten kills and Jennifer Alexander added a game-high 18 digs.

The Colonels complete tournament play this evening, facing Saint Louis at 6 p.m.