Box ScoreCAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Eastern fell in its first of two weekend Ohio Valley Conference matches in a 3-1 loss at Southeast Missouri State University Friday at Houck Field House.
SEMO won by scores of 26-24, 25-20, 17-25 and 25-20.
The Redhawks rallied late to take the first set over the Colonels. The momentum carried into the second set, as SEMO jumped out to a 5-0 lead. The Colonels, however, battled back and a kill from
Danielle Hicks pulled EKU within one, 21-20, forcing a Redhawk timeout. SEMO took the set's final four points claiming its second set.
EKU held a 12-7 lead in the third before back-to-back kills from Hicks gave the Colonels a five-point advantage, 19-14. Out of a Redhawk's timeout,
Ally Peters dropped two of her eight kills on the night as the Colonels moved ahead, 24-16, before closing out the set.
SEMO used a 5-1 run midway through the final set and deterred an Eastern rally to pick up the win.
The Colonels (3-17, 2-3 OVC) used two service aces from
Cassie Knutson and kills from
Rachel Vick and
Johanna Boyer to build a 6-1 lead early in the first set. SEMO, however, was able to make a late push to steal the set.
Eastern's
Celina Sanks tallied a team-high 13 kills and added 16 digs in the loss. Boyer finished with 10 kills and hit .360 on the night. Peters and Hicks contributed eight kills each.
The Colonels travel to UT Martin Saturday for another OVC match. Saturday's match is scheduled for 12 p.m.
