Box Score

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Junior Rachel Vick had 13 kills and three blocks as Eastern Kentucky beat Norfolk State, 3-0, on the final day of the Carolina Classic presented by Courtyard Marriott.
 
Eastern improved to 10-6 this season after winning by scores of 25-19, 28-26 and 25-22.
 
Vick made just two errors in 21 attempts for a .524 attack percentage.  She earned all-tournament honors after averaging 3.18 kills per set and hitting .388 in three matches at the Carolina Classic.
 
Celina Sanks finished with 10 kills and four blocks for the Colonels.  Ciera Koons added six kills with no errors and four blocks.
 
The second set proved to be key to the match.  After dropping the first set by six, Norfolk State (0-12) jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the second set.  However, before the set could get out of hand, Eastern answered with a 10-1 run to turn a seven-point deficit into a two-point lead.  A kill by Koons finished off the run and gave her team a 12-10 lead. 
 
NSU didn't fold, taking the lead at 17-16, 22-21 and three set-points at 24-23, 25-24 and 26-25.  After the third set-point, a Norfolk State error tied the score for the 13th and final time.  Vick posted back-to-back kills to end the set and give the Colonels a 2-0 lead.
 
EKU hit .330 as a team, finishing with 45 kills and only 12 errors in 100 attacks.  Norfolk State had 40 kills and 22 errors for a .173 attack percentage.  Eastern had a 7-2 edge in blocks.
 
Jessica Johnson had a match-best 16 kills for NSU.
 
The Colonels will open Ohio Valley Conference play with two road matches next weekend.  Eastern plays at Belmont on Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET and Tennessee State on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.