Box Score

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Eastern Kentucky overcame a 2-1 deficit on the road to beat Belmont, 3-2, on Friday in both teams Ohio Valley Conference opener.  Senior Alexis Plagens contributed a team-best 20 kills for the Colonels.
 
EKU improved to 11-6 this season, and 1-0 in the OVC, after winning by scores of 23-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-19, 16-14.  Three of the five sets were decided by the minimum two points.
 
Plagens had eight digs, three blocks and a service ace to go along with her 20 kills.  Johanna Boyer had 12 kills, two of which gave Eastern match-point in the fifth set.  Rachel Vick had 10 kills, seven digs and five blocks.
 
Senior setter Abbey Cvelbar recorded 48 assists and 16 digs.  Senior libero Dena Ott tied for a match-best 25 digs.  EKU finished with 16 more digs than Belmont (91-75).
 
After falling behind 2-1, the Colonels scored the first three points of the fourth set and never trailed on their way to a comfortable 25-19 victory to set up the decisive fifth set.
 
The score was tied 11 times in the fifth and the lead changed hands three times.  Eastern was just two points away from winning after a Boyer kill put the visitors on top 13-10, but the Bruins scored three straight to tie it for the 10th time.  The two teams exchanged points to get to 14-14.  A kill by Boyer gave EKU match-point for the second time before a Belmont attack error ended the set, 16-14, and the match.
 
Eastern Kentucky had two more kills (60-58) and three fewer errors despite finishing with 12 fewer attack than Belmont.  The Bruins held a 13-10 advantage in blocks, but committed six more service errors (10-4) than the Colonels.
 
Arianna Person finished with a match-high 21 kills for Belmont (4-10, 0-1 OVC).  Jocelyn Youngdahl added 13 kills.
 
Eastern continues its two-match road trip to Music City on Saturday at Tennessee State.  The match is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.