Box Score vs. N.C. State
Box Score vs. WCU

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Eastern Kentucky began the 2010 campaign with two losses on the first day of the VB Rags Western Carolina Invitational. The Colonels fell 3-0 to North Carolina State in the first match and then dropped a 3-2 decision to the host Catamounts.

In the first match of the day against North Carolina State, the Wolfpack took the first set by a three-point margin (25-22). The Colonels drew within two points twice in the closing moments of the set. A N.C. State attack error made it 23-21. After the Wolfpack reached set-point, a kill by Autumn Harms kept EKU alive, 24-22. However N.C. State won the next point to take the set.

North Carolina State won the second set by 11 points (25-14) and completed the sweep with a five-point win in the third (25-20).

Senior Lauren Snyder led Eastern with nine kills. Freshman Ashley Edmond added eight kills, four digs and a block assists in her first collegiate match. Harms totaled six kills. Senior Kate Hendle had 24 assists and senior #Abby O’Connor# turned in 18 digs.

Three players had 10 or more kills for N.C. State, led by Alex Smith and Luciana Shafer with 12 each. Margaret Salata had seven total blocks. The Wolfpack totaled 10 team blocks, compared to just one for Eastern Kentucky.

In the second match of the day against the host team, EKU jumped out to a 2-0 lead. The Colonels hit .333 in the first set while limiting WCU to a -.161 attack percentage in a 25-14 win. Eastern picked up a five-point victory (25-20) in the second set.

Eastern Kentucky went on top by three, 22-19, in the third set after a kill by Harms and a WCU error. However, the Catamounts didn’t fold. A kill by Paloma Alvarez and an EKU attack error allowed Western to tie the set at 23-23. WCU won the next two points to send the match to a fourth set.

Western Carolina cruised to a 25-14 victory to force a decisive fifth set. A kill by Hannah Groudle and a Catamount error put Eastern in front 12-11, and a kill by Snyder moments later kept the visitors on top, 13-12. Three straight EKU errors allowed Western to win the match.

Snyder finished with a match-best 18 kills for the Colonels. Harms added 11 kills and four blocks. Edmond contributed 10 kills and two aces. Hendle totaled 43 assists and O’Connor chipped in with a match-high 27 digs.

Alvarez led Western Carolina with 16 kills. Amanda Chaparro added 15. Both players totaled 16 digs.

The Colonels will conclude the event with a match against Coppin State on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.