Box Score

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team fell in straight sets to Tennessee State University Saturday night in Nashville.   
 
The Colonels lost 19-25, 24-26 and 22-25.
 
Abby Noll paced the Colonels offense posting a match-best 14 kills to go with eight digs. Jovana Bulatovic chipped in eight kills of her own.
 
Eastern jumped out to an early 7-3 lead in the opening set after the kill by Noll. Tennessee State answered back though going on a 5-0 run to take an 8-7 lead over the Colonels. With the set tied 12-12, TSU used another 4-0 run after the kill by Jasmine Fuqua to take a 16-12 lead in the opening set. Eastern answered back with a 4-0 run of its own to tie the set at 16-16 after back-to-back kills by Katelynn Caserma-Kloeble. Again TSU responded with a 5-1 run to take a 21-17 lead. The Tigers scored four of the last six points to take the opening set 25-19.
 
In set two, the Tigers took control early and jumped out to a 15-5 lead in the set. But Eastern kept chipping away and tied the set at 24-24 after a 4-0 run capped off by a Raegan Alexander kill. Tennessee State answered back though scoring the last two points of the set to win the set 26-24 and take a 2-0 lead.
 
In set three, the Colonels jumped out to an early 7-4 lead after the kill by Noll. TSU responded with an 8-1 run to give the Tigers a 12-8 lead in the third set. The Colonels kept chipping away but could not tie the set until 20-20 after back-to-back kills by Noll. With the set tied 22-22, TSU scored the last three points of the set to complete the sweep 25-22.
 
Julia Pierson led the way for the Tigers with a team-best 13 kills and 14 digs. Aniya Williams chipped in 11 kills of her own.
 
Eastern returns home to take on Jacksonville State on Friday. First serve against JSU is scheduled for 6 p.m.