Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky fell behind 2-0, but staged a comeback to knock off Eastern Illinois 3-2 Friday night at McBrayer Arena. Only two of the five sets were decided by more than four points.

Set scores were 26-28, 20-25, 25-23, 25-20 and 15-11. EKU improves to 10-13 overall and 9-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference. EIU falls to 13-12 on the season and 5-7 in league matches.

Four Colonels recorded 10 or more kills. Autumn Harms had 15 kills, a .333 attack percentage and seven total blocks. Lauren Snyder registered 15 kills and 11 digs. Ashley Edmond chipped in with 13 kills, three aces and three block assists. Hannah Groudle recorded 13 kills and a .500 attack percentage after not making an error in 26 attempts.

Robyn Hench finished with 55 assists and #Abby O’Connor# totaled a match-best 27 digs.

Alex Zwettler totaled a match-best 19 kills for the Panthers. She made only six errors in 44 attempts for a .295 attack percentage and had 12 digs. Reynae Hutchinson and Erin Hake each contributed 15 kills. Alison Berens finished with 11 kills.

Through the first two sets, Eastern Kentucky was out-hit .268 to .190 but for the match the Colonels posted a .203 attack percentage compared to .188 for the Panthers.

An ace by Hench in the first set gave EKU a 19-15 lead, but the visitors used a 6-1 run to take a one-point lead. The Panthers had set point four times before a kill by Zwettler finally ended the set and gave EIU a 1-0 lead.

Eastern Illinois never trailed in the second set. A kill by Zwettler put EIU in front by five 18-13. The Colonels got within two before the Panthers closed out the set and took a 2-0 lead. Eastern Illinois had 17 kills and only two errors in the second set for a .417 attack percentage.

The third set remained close throughout with the score tied on 12 occasions. The last tie came at 23-23, but an EIU attack error gave Eastern Kentucky set point. Another Panther error allowed the Colonels to escape with a two-point win and remain alive in the match.

EKU used a 4-1 run to build a small cushion in the fourth set. A kill by Snyder finished off the quick run and gave the home squad a three-point lead at 16-13. The Panthers closed to within two on two occasions, but never got any closer. An ace by Edmond made it a five-point game and gave Eastern Kentucky set point, 24-20. A kill by Snyder moments later finished off the set and tied the match 2-2.

Eastern Illinois scored first in the fifth set, but the Colonels scored the next seven points. EIU closed the margin to two, 13-11, late in the set but a kill by Harms followed by a kill from Edmond finished off the Colonel comeback.

Eastern Kentucky will host Southeast Missouri State on Saturday at noon.