Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky rebounded from back-to-back conference losses to beat Tennessee-Martin 3-1 Friday at McBrayer Arena.  The Colonels handed the Skyhawks their first conference loss of the season. 

Eastern (7-8, 2-2 OVC) won by scores of 25-21, 19-25, 25-15 and 25-23.

Freshman Hannah Burkle and sophomore Ashley Edmond led EKU with 16 kills each.  Burkle posted a .353 attack percentage and added five blocks while Edmond contributed 10 digs.  Four Colonels finished with 10 or more digs led by freshman Dena Ott with 25.

UT Martin (7-6, 2-1 OVC) was led by Ashley Doherty and Allie Whimpey with 14 kills each.  Kasey Elswick contributed 46 digs.

With the match tied 1-1, EKU came out and quickly put the third set away.  The Colonels started the set by winning nine of the first 10 points.  Eastern led 16-6 after a UTM attack error and 21-9 after a kill by Burkle and a UTM service error.

Burkle had five kills and no errors in the third set alone.  EKU hit .182 compared to -.105 for the Skyhawks.

Trailing 12-11 in the fourth set, the Colonels went on a 10-2 run to create a seven-point cushion.  Back-to-back kills by Burkle made it 21-14 in favor of the home team.  UT Martin battled back and tied the set, 22-22, on a kill by Doherty.  However, a Skyhawk error followed by a kill from Edmond gave the Colonels match-point.  Moments later UTM’s ninth service error of the night gave EKU the win.

EKU hit .180 as a team compared to .127 for Tennessee-Martin.  Eastern out-blocked the visitors 6-2.

The Colonels will play their next three matches on the road beginning at Eastern Illinois next Friday.  The match in Charleston is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET.