Box Score (PDF)
RICHMOND, Ky.— The EKU volleyball team took control early and eventually swept the Tennessee State University Tigers, 3-0, Friday night at McBrayer Arena.
Eastern won by scores of 25-20, 25-18, and 25-23.
The Colonels were led by junior
Nikki Drost, who recorded a team-high 14 kills and 11 digs. Freshman
Rachel Woody added 10 kills of her own, eight of which came in the first set. Freshman
Maria Ferragonio led the Colonels with 19 assists.
EKU hit .307 on the night, its third highest mark on the season. Eastern is 3-0 on the season when hitting more than .300.
Three straight kills by Woody helped EKU (7-10, 2-3 OVC) jump out to a 7-2 lead early in the first set. However, TSU (10-10, 2-3 OVC) would crawl within one on three different occasions. The Colonels would not be outdone, as EKU claimed the first set, 25-20.
Both Eastern and Tennessee State would trade points until midway through the second set. Then, tied at 12, a thunderous kill by Drost helped swing the momentum and give the Colonels a 14-12 advantage. Shortly after, a kill by sophomore
Cassie Knutson helped spark a 6-3 run to clinch the second set, 25-18.
In the third set, the Tigers jumped out to an 8-4 advantage before the Colonels fought back to tie it at 10. However, TSU would regain the lead. The Tigers would go up 16-12, the largest deficit of the game for Eastern. Once again, the Colonels fought back and cut the Tiger lead to 18-16.
Drost recorded a timely block the next possession that helped spark a run that gave EKU a one-point cushion at 19-18. A few possessions later, with the score tied at 23-23, junior
Celina Sanks gave Eastern the lead with a kill to the right side of the court. The following possession, Knutson sealed the game with a kill from Woody.
Eastern will be back in action Saturday afternoon to take on the Bruins of Belmont University. The match is set to begin at 2 p.m. EST.
EKU will host a free youth clinic immediately following the match in Alumni Coliseum. The clinic is open to children kindergarten through eighth grade.
