Box Score

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Eastern Kentucky jumped out to a 2-0 lead but couldn't hold off a Kent State comeback in a 3-2 loss on Friday at the Thunder Invitational hosted by Marshall.

The Golden Flashes (2-5) won by scores of 21-25, 25-27, 25-20, 25-14 and 15-8.  The Colonels fall to 4-4 on the season.

EKU trailed 18-17 in the first before using a 4-0 run to take control of the set.  Rachel Vick had a kill and an ace during the run.  Back-to-back kills by Alexis Plagens ended the set, 25-21.

A kill by Plagens late in the second set gave the Colonels set-point, 24-23, but Kent State tied the score.  After KSU tied it again at 25-25, Ashley Edmond recorded a kill.  Plagens and Tori Anderson blocked an attack by Kent State to end the set, 27-25, and give Eastern a 2-0 lead.

Plagens and Vick each finished with 15 kills.  Vick made just one error for a .538 attack percentage and had three blocks.  Dena Ott registered 24 digs.

The Golden Flashes won the third set 25-20 to stay alive.  The momentum carried over into the fourth set as KSU jumped out to a 14-3 lead on its way to a 25-14 win to even the match at 2-2.  Eastern couldn't regain any traction in the decisive fifth set.  Kent State took an 8-1 lead on its way to a 15-8 win.

Kelly Hutchinson led KSU with 13 kills.  Liz Reikow had 10 kills and five blocks.

The Colonels will conclude play at the Thunder Invitational with two matches on Saturday.  Eastern plays Marshall at 1 p.m. and Southern Illinois at 5 p.m.