Tournament Web Site (Including Live Stats Links)
RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky's volleyball team opens the 2014 season Friday as the Colonels take on Northeastern University in the Radisson UCF Invitational in Orlando, Fla.
The Colonels will play two matches on Friday, facing Northeastern at 10 a.m. followed by a match with host Central Florida at 3 p.m.
Eastern will finish the tournament on Saturday with Florida International University at 11 a.m. and Western Carolina University at 5 p.m.
The Colonels finished the 2013 season 18-16 overall, 9-7 in conference matches, and 9-9 against non-conference teams.
The UCF Knights were 21-10 overall, 12-6 in American Athletic Conference and 9-4 in non-conference matches. Northeastern finished 19-11 overall, 10-4 in the Colonial Athletic Association and 9-7 in non-conference matches. WCU was 18-13 overall, 8-8 in the Southern Conference and 10-5 in non-conference matches. The FIU Panthers were 13-17 overall, 6-8 in Conference USA, and 7-9 in non-conference matches.
Dena Ott enters her senior season with 1,831 career digs, fourth most in EKU history. She needs 624 more digs to break the program record held by Brittany Nobilio (2,454). Ott had a team-high 652 digs last year, second most in one season in program history. She ranked third in Ohio Valley Conference and 43rd in the nation in digs per set (4.9).
Alexis Plagens earned a spot on the 14-person preseason All-OVC team this season. She was second on the team with an average of 2.94 kills per set and second on the team with 385 kills in 2013. The Strongsville, Ohio native ranked ninth in OVC in kills.
Rachel Vick finished first on the team with 93 blocks and third on the team in kills (2.07 per set) a year ago. She was third on the team in points (334.5).
The Colonels go into the 2014 season losing former three time All-OVC player
Ashley Edmond. Edmond was also named the OVC Freshman of the Year in 2010. She ranked second in the OVC in both kills (3.44 per set) and points (3.84 per set) in 2013. She tallied 427 kills, making her third all-time in kills at EKU.
The first home match for the Colonels will be Sept. 3 against Marshall in McBrayer Arena at 6 p.m.
