BOX SCORE

RICHMOND, Ky. – Chloe Rojas led all players with 24 digs in Eastern Kentucky University volleyball's four-set loss to Eastern Illinois University on Saturday afternoon at McBrayer Arena.
 
EKU lost by scores of 20-25, 25-14, 25-27 and 12-25.
 
After falling in the first stanza the Colonels found themselves in an early 7-3 hole to begin the second set. But, an attack error from EIU's Laurel Bailey and a kill from Celina Sanks aided Eastern in rattling off six unanswered points to give EKU a two-point advantage, 9-7. The teams took turns scoring over the next few points but a Panther service error began another 6-0 Colonel run to make the score 18-11. Eastern Illinois took three more hits at the Eastern Kentucky lead but were unable to overcome the deficit. EKU made one final, uncontested run, again of six points, to close the set 25-14.
 
The Panthers made quick work of EKU with a 2-1 lead heading into the fourth frame and made it another set of runs. EIU opened the set on a 7-1 run to take a 9-3 advantage and continued to maintain the lead. Down the stretch Eastern Illinois blew open the lead. Maria Brown maintained the serve for six unanswered points to move the score to 19-7. Four more kills from the Panthers and two Colonel errors finished the set and match in favor of EIU, 25-12.
 
Sanks (14), Cassie Knutson (11) and Nikki Drost (10) all finished with double figures kills. Knutson tacked on 11 assists to finish with a double-double.
 
Maria Ferragonio had a team-best 22 assists. Mallory Maxwell added 17 digs to the Colonel total.  
 
Eastern Illinois' Taylor Smith led all players with six blocks, Abby Knight followed closely with five. Smith also racked up 10 kills and 16 digs to finish with a triple-double.
 
EIU improves to 10-10 (4-4 Ohio Valley Conference) and EKU falls to 7-15, (5-3 OVC)
 
EKU hits the road next week to play at the University of Tennessee at Martin and Southeast Missouri State University.