Box Score vs. Valparaiso
Box Score vs. South Carolina-Upstate

BOONE, N.C. – Eastern Kentucky had a 2-0 lead but couldn’t hold off a rally by Valparaiso (5-1) in a 3-2 loss on Saturday at the Appalachian Invitational hosted by Appalachian State. The Colonels (1-5) concluded the event with a 3-1 loss to South Carolina-Upstate (2-4) after taking a 1-0 lead in that match.

EKU won the first set against Valpo 25-18 and earned a 26-24 victory in the second set. The Crusaders picked up a 29-27 win in the third set to begin the rally. Valpo finished the match with a 26-24 win in the fourth and a 15-11 victory in the fifth.

Freshman Ashley Edmond led the Colonels with 18 kills to go along with 18 digs for her first career double-double. Seniors Lauren Snyder and Autumn Harms each contributed 17 kills. Harms also had three total blocks. Kate Hendle had 53 assists and #Abby O’Connor# added a match-best 35 digs.

After posting a .515 attack percentage in the first set, EKU failed to hit above .100 in each of the last two sets.

Eastern scratched out a 25-23 victory in the first set against USC Upstate, but after that it was all Spartans. Upstate ran off three straight, 25-14, 25-18 and 25-21 to earn the victory.

Edmond finished with 20 kills and nine digs. Harms added 13 kills and freshman Marissa Tashenberg contributed 11 kills. Connor had another match-high 25 digs.

USC Upstate posted a .281 attack percentage. Mindy Quimby led the Spartans with 17 kills.

The Colonels will begin play at the UNLV Invitational on Friday when they take on the host team at 10 p.m. ET in Las Vegas.