BOX SCORE

RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team opened Ohio Valley Conference play with a five-set victory over Tennessee Tech University on Friday night at Madison Central High School.

EKU and Tennessee Tech locked into a back and forth battle early in the first set, with neither team able to establish an advantage. A kill by Cassie Knutson and back-to-back errors by the Golden Eagles allowed Eastern to walk out to a 15-9 lead midway through. TTU battled back to within three late, forcing the Colonels to take a timeout with a 23-20 advantage. Eastern closed the set with a Lindsey Wilkins kill and a TTU attack error to take a 25-20 win.

Down 9-6 early in the second set, Eastern rallied behind three straight kills by Knutson and a Chloe Rojas service ace to take a one-point lead. The teams traded points throughout the remainder of the set, but two consecutive service errors and a kill by Susie Jeziorowski gave the Golden Eagles a 23-21 advantage. Eastern cut the lead down to one at 24-23, but a service error gave the win to Tennessee Tech.

The Colonels engaged in another tight battle with TTU in the third set as the Golden Eagles held a 19-17 late. Back-to-back kills by Knutson and Clairissa Hankinson and a TTU attack error gave Eastern a 20-19 lead. Tennessee Tech jumped back out in front and opened a 24-21 advantage, but a timeout breathed new life into the Colonels' offense. Kills by Mikayla Logan and Kiersten Schade, along with a service ace by Sydney Schoen allowed Eastern to tie the set at 24-24. Hankinson gave Eastern the lead with a kill while Wilkins closed out the set with a kill for a 26-24 Colonel victory.

Par for the course, another back and forth battle ensued in set four. Tennessee Tech eventually opened up to a 15-9 lead and maintained a consistent advantage throughout the set, claiming a 25-21 victory.

Set five gave no clear advantage to neither team early, but a kill by Kaylin Johnson and a TTU attack error gave Eastern an 8-6 lead halfway through. Eastern wasted no time after flipping sides, jumping out to an 11-7 lead. The Golden Eagles mounted a comeback and engaged the Colonels in an intense battle to close out the set. Tied at 14 apiece, Tennessee Tech committed back-to-back errors and Eastern took the win, 16-14.

Knutson led the Colonels with a double-double, notching a match-high 22 kills and 12 digs on .271 hitting. Rojas contributed a match-high 25 digs while Wilkins attributed 16 kills, hitting a .375 clip. Rachel Woody had 45 assists for the Colonels along with Johnson's five blocks.

The Golden Eagles (6-9, 0-1 OVC) were led by Ali Verzani's 16 kills and Kirsten Brugere's 18 digs. Jeziorowski had a match-high 47 assists.

The Colonels (2-11, 1-0 OVC) will be back in action at Madison Central High School against Jacksonville State on Saturday at 1 p.m.