Gamecock Invitational Web Site (Includes Links To Live Scoring)

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky’s volleyball team will participate in the Gamecock Invitational this weekend hosted by the University of South Carolina in Columbia. The Colonels (0-3) are in search of their first win of the 2009 season.

EKU will open play on Friday against South Carolina at 10 a.m. The Gamecocks are 3-0 with wins over Clemson, College of Charleston and Winthrop. Ivana Kujundzic leads the squad with an average of 4.00 kills per set. Teresa Stenlund has a team-best nine blocks.

The Colonels will face North Carolina-Greensboro in their second match on Friday. The match is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. UNCG is 2-2 this season with wins over Montana and Winston-Salem State. The Spartans two losses have come against Liberty and Virginia Tech. Olivia Humphries leads the team with an average of 2.60 kills per set. Emily Lindborg has eight blocks through four matches. Caley Redden has served up eight aces.

Eastern’s final match of the Gamecock Invitational will be played against Coastal Carolina University on Saturday at 10 a.m. CCU is 1-2 after losses to Dayton and No. 19 Purdue, and a win over Ball State. Chelsy Kimes is the team leader with 3.00 kills per set. Jill Nyhof has 18 blocks in only 11 total sets.

Through the first three matches of the season, the Colonels have been led by newcomer Lauren Snyder. The transfer from Central Connecticut State leads the team with an average of 3.11 kills per set. She earned all-tournament recognition at last weekend’s Loyola Invitational.

Senior Lindsey Loescher is second on the squad with an average of 2.22 kills per set. Junior Autumn Harms, who misses her first season at EKU due to an injury, is averaging 1.67 kills per set. Junior #Abby O’Connor# has contributed 5.67 digs per set.