BOX SCORE

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team won the defensive effort with 70 digs compared to Belmont University's 47 but it was not enough as the Colonels fell in four sets Saturday afternoon at the Curb Center.

The Bruins won by scores of 28-26, 25-22, 15-25, 25-21.

Neither team took a clear advantage during the first set with the largest lead being just three points in the opening exchanges. Later in the set, Belmont took a three-point advantage, 20-17, after an EKU attack error. The Colonels responded by rattling off three in a row to tie in up at 20-20.

The Bruins took the next point but Eastern took the next two to go up 22-21.

Belmont forced a pair of errors to take the set, 28-26.

Entering the third stanza the squads were again tied at 3-3, but a kill from Lindsey Wilkins sent EKU on a 5-0 run to go ahead 8-3. Hot hitting from the Colonels kept creating distance the set was blown open. Cassie Knutson logged a pair of terminations to close the set, 25-15.

EKU hit a .565 clip in the third set.

Chloe Rojas led the defensive charge with 25 digs while Kennedy Wilson chipped in 11. Knutson had a team-best 19 putaways and Wilkins chipped in 16.

Maria Ferragonio guided the offensive effort with 26 assists, Rachel Woody was also in double-digits with 13.

EKU falls to 3-15 on the season with a 2-4 mark in Ohio Valley Conference play while Belmont improves to 1-17 (1-5 OVC).

The Colonels return to the hardwood at McBrayer Arena on Thursday against the University of Tennessee at Martin. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.