RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky’s Brittany Nobilio broke the Ohio Valley Conference record for career digs tonight in the Colonels’ 3-2 loss to Tennessee Tech at McBrayer Arena in Richmond, Ky. EKU scored a 30-17 victory in game three to take a 2-1 lead but the Golden Eagles won two straight games to take the match.
“It’s exciting, and it’s a great accomplishment,” Nobilio said of her new conference record. “I’m proud of it, but I’m concerned more about the team. I’d take a win over a record any day.”
When Nobilio was credited with her 15th dig during game two, she raised her career total to 2,079 and moved past Morehead State’s Cherelle Lampkins (2000-03) into first place on the OVC’s career digs list. Nobilio finished with 30 digs, her second 30-plus dig performance of the season, and now has 2,094 during her career.
“It’s a heck of an accomplishment,” Eastern Kentucky Head Coach Lori Duncan said. “She’s a tremendous part of our program and deserves a great amount of credit for the success this team has had over the last four years. What she has accomplished at EKU is a sign of her ability and her character.”
Game scores were 26-30, 30-25, 17-30, 30-24 and 16-14. Eastern falls to 1-12 overall and 0-3 in OVC play. TTU moves to 8-6 and 2-1 in league matches.
EKU freshman Amanda Fago hit .294 and turned in a match-high 22 kills. Junior Amanda Wilson added 17 kills and freshman Leah nelson finished with 15. Junior Bridget Mustard recorded five blocks to go along with eight kills.
Leah Meffert led the Golden Eagles with 18 kills. Amanda Lindgren finished with 12 kills and three aces. Caitlin Bullock had six blocks.
As a team EKU hit .188 and Tech hit .135.
A 6-2 EKU run in game one allowed the Colonels to turn a one-point lead into a five-point advantage. The Golden Eagles would draw within three but never any closer. A kill by Mustard gave Eastern a 30-26 victory in the first game.
A 4-1 run in the second game put EKU in front 18-12 but Tennessee Tech clawed back. The Golden Eagles responded with a 9-1 run to take a 21-19 lead. The Colonels tied the score at 22 but could never forge ahead and lost 30-25.
The Colonels followed intermission with a dominating performance in the third game to take a 2-1 lead. Eastern scored six of the first seven points and never let Tech back into the game. A TTU attack error made it 13-7 in favor of the home team. Nobilio’s ace gave EKU a seven point advantage, 18-11. A kill by freshman Abby O’Connor made it a 10-point difference, 23-13. Mustard closed out the 13-point victory with a kill.
Eastern had 19 kills and only four attack errors in the third game. Tech had just eight kills and nine errors. The Colonels hit .385 while limiting the Golden Eagles to a -.026 attack percentage.
Game four was tight until three unanswered points gave Tennessee Tech a four-point cushion, 19-15. Eastern couldn’t get any closer than three points the rest of the way. TTU closed out the game with three straight kills.
Eastern Kentucky looked ready to close out the match when the Colonels scored four straight to open the fifth game. However, Tech battled back. An EKU attack error tied the score at seven. Three straight Golden Eagle attack errors allowed Eastern to build a 13-10 advantage. Fago’s kill brought the home team to match-point at 14-12 but TTU rolled off four straight, including three kills by Lindgren, to win the match.
The Colonels are right back in action tomorrow with a home match against Tennessee State. The action at McBrayer Arena will begin at 2 p.m.
