Box Score (PDF)

MURRAY, Ky. – Three Colonels logged double-doubles as the EKU volleyball team knocked off the defending Ohio Valley Conference tournament champion Belmont University, 3-1, at Racer Arena Thursday.
 
With the win, the Colonels advance to Friday's semifinal round. EKU will take on OVC regular season champ, Murray State. Friday's match will be at 8 p.m. ET.
 
Junior Nikki Drost set a new career-high with 27 kills in the win. Drost hit .367 on the day, logged 11 digs, and set a new career-high with five block assists. Sophomore Cassie Knutson picked up her fifth double-double of the season, finishing with 17 kills and 10 digs for the Colonels. Freshman Rachel Woody—who was named OVC Freshman of the Year at Wednesday's conference banquet—recorded 51 assists to go with 13 digs.
 
The Colonels trailed early in the opening set, before breaking an 8-8 tie on a Belmont miscue. EKU never looked back. The Colonels built a four-point lead and took a 1-0 lead after a kill from junior Celina Sanks.
 
It was all EKU in the second, as the Colonels opened a nine-point advantage. A kill from junior Ciera Koons sparked a 4-0 run for the Colonels, giving Eastern a 17-8 lead. Kills from Drost and Knutson widened the EKU lead, before an ace from junior Mallory Maxwell put the Colonels in front, 21-11, on their way to a 2-0 lead.
 
The Bruins overcame an early EKU lead in the third to force a fourth set, but the Colonels were determined.
 
Belmont led for most of the way until a kill from Sanks broke a 15-15 tie and put EKU in front. However, Belmont regained the lead, forcing an EKU timeout late.
 
Down 18-17, the Colonels rolled to five straight points all but sealing the win. Back-to-back kills from Drost ignited the run, while giving EKU the momentum.
 
With a match-point opportunity, Sanks again delivered winner to help the Colonels advance.
 
Belmont won the two regular season meetings against the Colonels. Both set went to five sets.