Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – In a match-up of two of the four teams tied for first in the Ohio Valley Conference, Eastern Kentucky University's volleyball team beat Jacksonville State University 3-1 on Friday at McBrayer Arena.
 
Junior Rachel Vick led the Colonels (16-7, 6-1 OVC) with a match best 19 kills. She also posted a .353 attack percentage. Alexis Plagens finished with 13 kills. Abbey Cvelbar contributed 49 assists and Dena Ott totaled 25 digs.
 
In the first set EKU fell 25-19 as Jacksonville State ended the set with a kill by Allyson Zuhlke. In the second set the Colonels used a 7-4 run to take a 17-14 lead and cruised to a 25-19 win.
 
In the third set, EKU took a six-point advantage, 24-18, on Otts' service ace but JSU scored six straight points to tie the set. However, back-to-back kills by Plagens and Vick gave EKU the set victory and a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
Eastern fought to break the 13-13 tie and pulled away late in the fourth set to win the match. The Colonels led by two late before Plagens gave EKU match-point, 24-21, with a kill.  A Jacksonville State error ended the set and the match.  
 
Charis Ludtke led Jacksonville State (13-10, 5-2 OVC) with 15 kills.
 
Eastern Kentucky had 59 kills, compared to 42 for the Gamecocks.  JSU held a 7-4 advantage in blocks, but EKU had 11 more digs (86-75).
 
The Colonels' next match will be at home against Tennessee Tech on Saturday at 2 p.m.