Box Score

CONWAY, Ark. – EKU began its weekend Atlantic Sun Conference road trip with a 3-1 win at Central Arkansas on Friday.
 
Sarah Mitchell led the team with 12 kills and had 10 digs.  Paige Wagers finished with eight kills and only one error, a .368 attack percentage and five blocks.  AG Vandagriff contributed 10 kills and a .333 attack percentage.  Chloe Mason added 24 assists and Josie Schmitendorf had 27 digs.
 
The Colonels (19-6, 9-4 ASUN) had two fewer kills (51), but nine fewer attach errors than the Sugar Bears.  EKU served up nine aces, compared to three for UCA.
 
A 7-2 run early in the first set allowed the Colonels to go in front by six, 12-6.  Mason capped it with an ace.  The Sugar Bears closed the gap to two, 19-17, on an EKU attack error, but the visitors closed out the set with a 6-1 run.  A kill from Kambree Lucas ended the first frame 25-18.
 
EKU came all the way back from a 22-16 deficit in the second set, tying it at 24-24 on a kill from Vandagriff.  However, UCA won the next two points to take the set 26-24 and even the match at 1-1.
 
The Sugar Bears grabbed a 15-13 lead on a kill from Allison Holloway in the third set before the Colonels scored eight of the next nine.  A kill from Mitchell made it 21-16 in favor of EKU.  Mitchell finished off the set with a kill, 25-21, and put her squad ahead 2-1 in the match.
 
EKU had four point leads at 16-12, 18-14 and 19-15 in the fourth set, but the Sugar Bears battled back.  A kill from Caylan Koons tied the set at 20-20.  The Colonels went back in front on back-to-back kills from Lucas and Wagers.  With EKU up 22-21, UCA committed consecutive attack errors and Katie McKune finished off the set, and the match, with a kill.
 
Mackenzie Vernon led Central Arkansas (7-18, 1-12 ASUN) with 11 kills and added three blocks.
 
The road trip concludes for EKU at North Alabama on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.  The match will air live on ESPN+.