Box Score vs. Wofford  |  Box Score vs. USC Upstate

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Eastern Kentucky began play at the Wofford Invitational with a 3-1 win over host Wofford and then came from behind to beat the University of South Carolina Upstate, 3-2.
 
Three Colonels finished with 10 or more kills in the win over Wofford.  Molly Michalak led the way with 17  kills and also had 16 digs.  Sarah Mitchell had 15 kills and 12 digs.  Freshman Carson Ledford contributed 10 kills and three blocks.  Chloe Mason posted 16 assists and 18 digs.
 
Tied 9-9 in the first set, EKU rolled off five straight to take control.  A kill from Michalak made it a 6-point margin, 16-10.  A kill by Maddy Campbell pushed Eastern Kentucky ahead by eight, 20-12.  A kill by Mitchell and a Wofford error ended the set 25-17.
 
The Colonels had three set-points in the second set but couldn't finish off the Terriers.  Wofford scored three straight to win 28-26.  Eastern Kentucky never trailed on its way to winning the third set, 25-18, and taking a 2-1 lead.
 
In the fourth set, an ace from Michalak broke a 13-13 tie and EKU led the rest of the way.  After a Wofford attack error gave the Colonels match-point, freshman AG Vandagriff finished it off with a kill.
 
Eastern Kentucky hit .240 for the match and committed four fewer errors than the Terriers.
 
In the opening set against USC Upstate, Mitchell broke an 11-11 tie with a kill to start a quick 3-0 spurt for the Colonels.  EKU went up four, 17-13, on a kill by Campbell.  After the Spartans got within three, 23-20, on a block, Eastern Kentucky scored the final two points to close out the first set 25-20.
 
EKU scored the first four points of the second set and led 5-1 on a kill from Ledford.  However, USC Upstate seized control of the set with a 7-1 run that put the Spartans on top 8-6.  The Colonels were down two, 14-12, when USC Upstate scored six straight to put the set out of reach on its way to a 25-18 win.
 
After Eastern Kentucky went ahead 19-18 on a kill by Mitchell in the fourth set, the Spartans used a 7-3 run to close it out and take a 2-1 lead.
 
In the fourth set, the Colonels were in front 22-18 before USC Upstate rolled off five straight to take a 23-22 lead.  A kill from Ledford tied it 23-23.  With the score tied 24-24, EKU took the set on an error from the Spartans and a block by Ledford.
 
Eastern Kentucky (4-1) controlled the fifth set from the beginning.  After the Spartans tied it 4-4, the Colonels scored five straight, including two kills by Michalak.  USC Upstate closed to within two, 10-8, before EKU scored three more.  Mitchell's kill gave the Colonels match-point at 14-10.  Michalak finished it off with a kill for a 15-10 win.
 
Michalak led the team with 17 kills.  Vandagriff and Mitchell had 14 kills each.  Vandagriff hit .636.  Mason had 33 assists.  Josie Schmitendorf led all players with 25 digs.
 
Eastern Kentucky closes out the Wofford Invitational against Appalachian State on Saturday at 11 a.m. ET.  The match will air live on ESPN+.