MATCH ONE BOX | MATCH TWO BOX

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Senior Cassie Knutson and freshman Mikayla Logan each logged 20 kills on the day as the Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team dropped matches to host New Mexico and New Mexico State on day one of the Lobo Classic.
 
The Colonels lost to New Mexico (2-2) by scores of 25-16, 25-20 and 25-18. EKU (0-5) fell to NM State (3-2) by scores of 25-18, 27-29, 25-27, 25-18 and 15-9.
 
After dropping the first set against the Aggies, the Colonels fell behind 4-0 in set two. But, after a pair of attack errors from NM State and a duo of blocks from Kaylin Johnson and Lindsey Wilkins EKU knotted the score up at 4-4. The teams exchanged points down the stretch until New Mexico State went on a 5-1 run to take a 15-10 advantage.
 
The Aggies committed a service error at the 19-14 mark that opened up a 6-1 Colonel run. During the run Johnson, Natalie Burchesky and Logan each contributed a block while Logan collected two kills to make the score 20-20. The squads went point-for-point through the remainder of the set but a putaway from Knutson from Rachel Woody and an Aggie attack error sealed the set for EKU, 29-27, and evened the match at 1-1.
 
The Colonels trailed for the majority of the third set, but Knutson came up with a kill when EKU was down two, 18-16, to spark five unanswered points and give Eastern its first lead of the set, 21-19. NM State went ahead after a kill from Megan Hart, 25-24, to take set point, but a block from Woody and Clairissa Hankinson tied it again at 25-25. The Aggies committed an attack error to give the Colonels set point and Woody set the score with a service ace.
 
New Mexico State held EKU to just .175 and .054 hitting percentages in the final two sets to take the match in a five set marathon.
 
Knutson collected a double-double with 14 kills and 16 assists. Lindsey Wilkins racked up a team-high 15 kills in the match while Johnson added seven blocks. Hankinson and Burchesky each chipped in four blocks. Woody contributed 26 assists and 11 digs while Chloe Rojas had a team-best 13 digs.
 
New Mexico held the Colonels to a .130 or less hitting percentage through the three sets while it hit .367, .171 and .278 to take the match in three sets.
 
Rojas had 13 digs while Johnson and Hankinson each added three blocks. Logan led the offensive effort with seven putaways.
 
The Colonels will be back in action tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET to close out the Lobo Classic against Florida Gulf Coast. Live statistics will be available for the match.