Box Score

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Kentucky jumped out to a 2-0 lead, watched as Eastern Illinois tied the match at 2-2 before finally dispatching the Panthers 3-2 on Saturday night.

Set scores were 25-23, 25-23, 21-25, 13-25 and 16-14.

EKU improved to 3-10 on the season and 2-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play. EIU fell to 7-7 overall and 0-2 in league action.

Freshman Ashley Edmond (14) led three Colonels with 10 or more kills. Senior Lauren Snyder had 12 kills with a .360 attack percentage and three total blocks. Senior Autumn Harms contributed 11 kills and three total blocks. Senior #Abby O’Connor# led all players with 22 digs.

Reynae Hutchinson had a match-best 26 kills and a .449 attack percentage for Eastern Illinois. Kelsey Orr chipped in with 18 kills. Jorie Dieter and Alison Berens each had six total blocks.

Eastern Illinois out-hit EKU .260 to .201 and held a 12-5 advantage in blocks.

A kill by Harms in the decisive fifth set gave the Colonels a 13-12 lead. Hutchinson tied the set on the next series with her final kill of the night. A kill by Snyder brought the visitors to match-point, 14-13, but Orr responded with a kill to tie the set again. Another kill by Snyder gave EKU match-point for the second time. This time Orr committed an error to end the Panthers comeback bid.

Next up for the Colonels is a match at rival Morehead State on Thursday. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m.