Box Score
RICHMOND, Ky. – EKU fell to Eastern Illinois, 3-1, on the final day of the Geri Polvino Invitational, presented by the Dr. Geri Polvino, Russell, Josephine, and Mary Polvino Family Legacy Endowment, Saturday at McBrayer Arena.
Eastern Illinois claimed the GPI Championship by going 3-0 over the two days. The GPI All-Tournament Team consisted of Allison Murray from Saint Francis, Taya Haffner from Purdue Fort Wayne,
Katie McKune of EKU, and Kaitlyn Flynn and Christina Martinez-Mundo of Eastern Illinois. Flynn was chosen as the Geri Polvino Invitational MVP.
The Panthers won by scores of 25-23, 26-28, 25-23 and 26-24.
Molly Michalak led Eastern Kentucky (7-3) with 12 kills.
Sarah Mitchell added nine kills, surpassing 500 for her career, and a team-high 22 digs.
Chloe Mason posted 23 assists.
Flynn led all players with 29 kills. Martinez-Mundo added 27 digs for the Panthers (5-5).
Down 1-0 in the match, and 19-18 in the second set, the Colonels went on a 5-1 run to go up by three. Michalak's kill made it 23-20. Eastern Illinois tied it at 24-24 and took a 26-25 lead on a kill from Ireland Hieb. Two straight attack errors from the visitors and a
Carson Ledford kill for EKU finished off the set 28-26 and tied the match.
The Panthers won the third set to take a 2-1 lead and went up 21-14 in the fourth on an ace from Catalina Rochaix. Eastern Kentucky didn't quit and scored the next five points to get within two, making it 21-19 on an ace from Mason. Michalak's kill made it a one-point margin, 23-22. The Colonels tied it at 24-24 on an EIU error. However, the rally ended on a kill by Flynn and an EKU attack error to end the set, and the match.
Eastern Kentucky made just 19 errors in the match, but had 23 fewer kills than Eastern Illinois. The Panthers held a 10-6 advantage in blocks.
The Colonels will return to action at the Jaguar Invitational hosted by the University of South Alabama on Friday and Saturday. EKU will begin play against Florida A&M at 11 a.m. on Friday and then take on Ole Miss at 4 p.m. on Friday.
