Box Score

MOREHEAD, Ky. – Trailing two sets to one, the Eastern Kentucky volleyball team built a six-point lead in the fourth set but couldn’t hold off a comeback by Murray State and lost 3-1 in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament on Thursday night in Morehead, Ky.

The Colonels, the fifth seed, conclude their season with an 11-18 record. The fourth seeded Racers (15-16) advance to face No. 1 seed Morehead State in the semifinals on Friday.

Murray State posted a .312 attack percentage on its way to a 25-21 win in the first set. Eastern Kentucky turned it around in the second, hitting .361 to win 25-19. The Racers had 10 errors in the third set, compared to five for the Colonels, but MSU squeaked out a 25-23 victory to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

EKU scored the first point in the fourth set, and led for much of the time. Back-to-back kills by Hannah Groudle and Lauren Snyder gave Eastern a 20-14 lead. However, the Racers didn’t fold. Despite two time outs by EKU, Murray State scored six straight to tie the set 20-20. A kill by Ashley Edmond pushed the Colonels ahead by two, 23-21, but MSU answered again. This time scoring three straight to take a one-point lead. Moments later a kill by Kayleah Sauer followed by an Eastern attack error ended the set, 26-24, and the match.

Edmond led Eastern Kentucky with a match-best 20 kills. She made five errors in 54 attacks for a .278 attack percentage. In addition, the OVC Freshman of the Year had 12 digs, an ace and a block. Snyder finished with 14 kills, 12 digs and four blocks. Senior Autumn Harms recorded 10 kills and four blocks.

Ashley Nenninger led Murray State with 18 kills. Cassy Wolverton added 12 kills. Jade Guo dished out 50 assists and had 15 digs.