Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In the first match at the three-match ASUN Conference volleyball crossover event, West Division Eastern Kentucky fell to East Division Stetson, 3-0, on Friday at the University of North Florida.
 
Stetson (10-11, 5-4 ASUN) won by scores of 25-22, 25-22 and 25-16.
 
Molly Michalak had a team-high 14 kills.  Anna Purichia contributed seven kills and only one error for a .429 attack percentage.  Audrey Eurton posted 20 assists and Sydney Schoen finished with 14 digs.
 
A 4-0 run, including three kills by Michalak, put Eastern Kentucky in front 9-6 early in the first set.  However, Stetson answered with six unanswered and never trailed again.  The Hatters went up eight, 22-14, and took set-point with a seven-point advantage, 24-17.  The Colonels tried to stay in it, scoring five straight, two of which came off kills from Michalak and one from a Schoen service ace, to get within two.  An EKU attack error gave Stetson the first set 25-22.
 
In the second set, Stetson broke an 11-11 tie with a 9-2 run to go on top by seven.  Eastern Kentucky came back late again, out-scoring the Hatters 8-3 to get within two.  An ace off Josie Schmitendorf's serve and a kill by Purichia capped the run and made it 23-21.  Stetson closed it out by scoring two of the next three points.
 
The Colonels (6-17, 3-6 ASUN) scored the first point in the third set, but Stetson scored the next five and led the rest of the way.  Eastern Kentucky was within one, 15-14, on a kill by Michalak before the Hatters rolled off a 10-2 run to end the match.
 
Stetson out-hit EKU .263 to .183.  The Colonels made only three more errors than the Hatters, but had six fewer kills.
 
Elena Djokovic led the Hatters with 15 kills and a .364 attack percentage.  She made just three errors in 33 attempts.
 
EKU will face host North Florida at 7 p.m. on Saturday.  The match will air live on ESPN+.