BOX SCORE

RICHMOND, Ky. – The front row dominated the defensive effort for the Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team, securing a four-set victory over Jacksonville State on Saturday afternoon at McBrayer Arena.
 
Eastern won by scores of 25-22, 20-25, 25-12, and 25-20.
 
EKU (5-13, 3-1 OVC) out-blocked JSU 14-to-8. Middle blocker Kaylin Johnson led all players with a career-high nine blocks, she set her previous high of five three times last season.  Nikki Drost set a career-high seven blocks, while Ciera Koons and Celina Sanks chipped in four apiece.
 
The squads came out of the break with the match even at 1-1. EKU quickly opened the third stanza on a 5-0 run that came off of a kill from Sanks forcing an early JSU (14-8, 1-3 OVC) timeout. The Gamecocks then took 9-of-16 of the next points to draw within three, 12-9. But, a trio of kills, two from Sanks and one from Lauren Kolenik, sparked eight unanswered points from the Colonels, 20-9. Three kills from the Gamecocks cut into the lead, 21-12, and was the only threat they would make to a hot-hitting Eastern team. A block from Johnson sealed the set in favor of the Colonels, 25-12.
 
In set four EKU reached eight first, gaining the advantage when the teams switched sides. A kill from Sanks and back-to-back attack errors from the Gamecocks put the Colonels up five, 11-6. Jacksonville State called a timeout in an attempt to stifle Eastern and came out of it winning three of the next four points. JSU came within two, 14-12 after a kill from its own Allyson Zuhlke, but Drost came up with an answer of her own with a kill, then teamed up with Johnson to notch the block. After a final JSU timeout the Colonels would not back down, ending the set and the match on back-to-back kills from Sanks.
 
EKU did not hit a set under .200 today, shining in the third with a stout .429 hitting percentage. Jacksonville State came into today's matchup averaging a .229 percentage, but the Colonels only allowed them to hit one set above .156.
 
Eastern also held JSU's leading outside hitter, Allyson Zuhlke, who was averaging .310 to a .059 hitting percentage.
 
Zuhlke paced the Gamecocks with 13 kills while Jennifer Hart led all players with 37 assists.
 
Sanks hit a season-high 20 kills to lead all players and Cassie Knutson set a season-high 32 assists. Two other Colonels found themselves in double digits in kills: Drost (10) and Kolenik (12) while Maria Ferragonio also found herself in double-digits in assists with 22.
 
Chloe Rojas led all players with 21 digs.
 
EKU closes a three-game swing at home on Wednesday when it welcomes in the Morehead State Eagles. First serve is set for 6 p.m.