MATCH ONE BOX | MATCH TWO BOX

CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team fell to the University of Cincinnati at St. Ursula Academy and Xavier University at the Cintas Center on day one of the Queen City Classic.
 
The Colonels (1-10) fell to the Bearcats (8-2) by scores of 25-14, 25-14 and 25-13. The Musketeers (2-8) topped EKU, 25-23, 25-16 and 25-17.
 
In the first set of the nightcap Eastern led Xavier, 10-7, after back-to-back kills from Lindsey Wilkins. The Musketeers continued to make attempts at the lead, but the Colonels maintained a tight two-point lead. But, at the 14-12 mark Kelly Franxman put one away off of a block to spark three in a row followed by a kill from Mikayla Logan to knot the score at 15-15.
 
The teams exchanged blows down the stretch, but Xavier came out on top, taking the set 25-23.
 
After falling behind early in the second frame Kaylin Johnson notched a solo block to bring the Colonels within one, 6-5. After Morgan Finn collected a kill the Musketeers rattled off five in a row to extend their lead, 11-5. EKU came within four after a putaway from Katelynn Caserma-Kloeble, but XU blew open the set to take it, 25-16.
 
Xavier carried that momentum into the third set to take the match, 25-17.
 
Wilkins led the offensive effort in both matches on the day, tallying 11 kills against Xavier and eight against the Bearcats. The sophomore hit a .444 clip in match one and .280 in the second.
 
Rachel Woody collected 34 assists on the day while Chloe Rojas added 36 digs, collecting a match-high 22 against the Musketeers.
 
In set one against Cincinnati the Colonels went ahead early to lead 7-6 after a Bearcat service error. UC responded by scoring nine unanswered to go ahead 15-8.
 
The Bearcats took early control of the final two sets and continued to extend their lead, taking the match in straight sets.
 
The Colonels close out the Queen City Classic tomorrow against a 7-2 Indiana team at 4 p.m. The match will be played at the Cintas Center.