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MURRAY, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky’s volleyball team won the first set, but Murray State won the next three to capture a 3-1 Ohio Valley Conference victory Friday night. Newcomer Lindsey Loescher led the Colonels (2-11, 1-3 OVC) with an EKU career-best 25 kills. Sophomore Abby O'Connor finished with a career-high 27 digs.

Setter Kate Hendle made her first appearance of the season for Eastern, after missing the first 12 matches with an injury. Hendle finished with 43 assists in her first outing of the season.

Murray State (5-7, 2-1 OVC) was led by Sara Hayden’s 13 kills and .632 attack percentage. Alison Mugler added 11 kills and a .381 hitting percentage. Four Racers finished with 10 or more digs.

Neither team led by more than two points in the first set until back-to-back kills by Loescher gave Eastern Kentucky a four-point advantage, 18-14. The Racers fought back and drew within one, 20-19, on a kill by Hayden. The Colonels answered with four straight points to get to set-point. Wilson’s kill put EKU in front 1-0 with a 25-21 first set victory.

A kill by Becca Lamb and an ace from Kayleah Sauer in the second set put Murray State in front 15-11. Ashley Nenninger’s kill kept it a four-point advantage at 20-16. After Nenninger’s kill, the Colonels used a 5-2 run to close the gap. A kill by Loescher and a MSU attack error brought the visitors to within a point, 22-21. The Racers scored the next two points to reach set-point. Hayden’s kill gave the set to Murray State, 25-22, and tied the match at 1-1.

Loescher had 17 kills in the first two sets to go along with a .375 attack percentage.

The Colonels controlled most of set three. A kill by Loescher gave EKU an early 5-2 lead. Hannah Groudle's kill put Eastern in front 8-4. Another Loescher kill made it a five-point advantage at 14-9. Murray State answered with a 5-0 run to tie the set, it wouldn’t be the last Racer run.

A MSU service error gave Eastern Kentucky an 18-15 lead in the third set. However, after Groudle’s kill kept Eastern in front, 19-17, the Colonels didn’t score again. Murray State scored the final eight points to go up 2-1 after the set three, 25-19, victory. Logan Su had three kills during the run.

The Racers controlled the fourth game from the beginning and took a big lead on the strength of a 7-2 run. An EKU attack error capped the MSU run and left the home team with a 9-point lead, 20-11. Jade Guo’s kill ended the set, 25-15, and the match.

The Colonels will conclude their two-game road trip with an afternoon match at the University of Tennessee at Martin on Saturday at 2 p.m. (ET).