BOX SCORE

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Freshman Lauren Kolenik had a career day with 13 kills, more than doubling her previous high of six, coupled with four blocks to lead the Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team in its five set loss to Belmont University on Saturday afternoon at the Curb Center.
 
EKU handled Belmont in set one. Cassie Knutson threw the first punch of the set with a kill from Rachel Woody. Woody then put down a ball of her own to start an 8-1 Colonel run that ended with a kill from the sophomore again, moving the score to 20-14. The teams then exchanged points, but kills from Kaylin Johnson and Celina Sanks put the set in favor of EKU, 25-18.
 
After dropping the second set, the Colonels jumped in front early in set three after a trio of errors from the Bruins, 3-1. Kolenik and Knutson came up with kills, but Belmont was quick to answer both times. EKU was able to cling onto a lead throughout the set, the closest Belmont would come was at the 18-16 mark. Clairissa Hankinson came up with a big kill to end the set, 25-18.
 
In the fifth set EKU scored four unanswered, 8-5, making them the first to reach the midway point and giving them the advantage before switching sides. Belmont then heated up, scoring nine in a row with no response from the Colonels, 14-8. A kill from the Bruin's Jessica Vestal closed the set and the match, 15-12 Belmont.
 
Woody finished the match with her first triple-double of the season with 21 assists, 10 kills and 11 digs.
 
Sanks was also in double-figures with 10 kills. Ferragonio notched a season-high 17 assists and Rojas tallied 26 digs. Hankinson finished with a season-high seven kills.
 
The Colonels fall to 3-13 on the season and 1-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference while Belmont improves to 7-6, 2-0 in the league.
 
EKU returns to action on its home court next weekend, welcoming in Tennessee Tech on Friday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. and Jacksonville State on Sept. 30 at 2 p.m.