Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University overcame a 2-1 deficit in the match, and jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the fifth set, but couldn't hold off first-place Florida Gulf Coast in a 3-2 loss on Saturday at Baptist Health Arena.
 
After winning the fourth set by three to force a decisive fifth, the Colonels (16-6, 6-4 ASUN) broke an early 3-3 tie with four straight points.  Emilee Hill had two aces, the second put EKU on top 7-3.  A kill from Sarah Mitchell made it 8-5 midway through the final set.  The Eagles drew within one on three occasions, but each time the Colonels answered to stay up by two.  The final time Madi Tolzman recorded a kill to make it 12-10 in favor of the home team.  FGCU scored the next four points to reach match-point.  Another kill from Tolzman kept her team alive, but Shelby Kent ended it, 15-13, on the next series with a kill for the visitors.
 
Carson Ledford had a team-best 15 kills for EKU.  She had only two errors in 23 attempts and posted a .565 attack percentage with two aces and two blocks.  Mitchell finished with 14 kills and 12 digs.  Tolzman had 10 kills and two blocks.  Hill finished with five aces.
 
Kent led Florida Gulf Coast (18-5, 10-0 ASUN) with 22 kills.  Juliana Lentz had 11 blocks.  As a team, the Eagles finished with 12 blocks and 11 aces, compared to seven blocks and eight aces for the Colonels.
 
Down 22-21 in the first set, EKU scored four of the final five points to take a 1-0 lead.  Mitchell ended the opener, 25-23, with a kill.
 
A 6-0 run midway through the second set allowed the Eagles to turn a 1-point advantage into a 7-point lead on their way to a 25-16 win.  The Colonels pulled in front 13-9 in the third set on a kill from Paige Wagers before FGCU answered with a 9-3 run.  Back-to-back attack errors put Florida Gulf Coast ahead by two, 18-16.  An ace from Lily Tessier finished off the set, 25-21, and made it 2-1.
 
The Colonels jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the fourth set and never trailed until late in the set.  Kent's kill put FGCU in front 22-21.  EKU scored the next four points to end the set, 25-22, and tie the match.  Mitchell accounted for two of the four with a pair of kills.
 
EKU continues its four-match home stand against Austin Peay next Friday and Lipscomb on Saturday.  The rematch with the Governors is slated to start at 6 p.m.