Box Score

FLORENCE, Ala. – Eastern Kentucky University's volleyball team suffered a 3-1 loss at the University of North Alabama on Sunday.
 
Sarah Mitchell had 13 kills.  Carson Ledford contributed eight kills and four blocks.  Madi Tolzman finished with eight kills and a .350 attack percentage.
 
EKU doubled its lead from three to six with three straight points early in the first set to make it 10-4.  Mitchell had two kills and Josie Schmitendorf finished it with an ace.  The Lions were within three after a service error, 20-17, but the Colonels closed out the set in quick order.  EKU ended it with a 5-2 run, including back-to-back aces from Chloe Mason to conclude the set 25-19. 
 
The Colonels had six aces in the first frame.
 
Down 4-3 in the second set, North Alabama rolled off four straight and led the rest of the way.  Nicole Sargent's kill gave the home team a 21-16 lead.  EKU whittled the deficit to one, 23-22, after a kill from Paige Wagers.  However, back-to-back kills from Anna Katherine Griggs and Hayley Martin ended the set, 25-22, and tied the match 1-1.
 
The Colonels had just one ace in the second set.
 
EKU had an 11-10 lead in the third after a kill by Ledford.  However, North Alabama rolled off the next five points to go up by four.  The Colonels never rebounded.  A kill from Brenna Teitz finished off the set, 25-17, and put the Lions on top 2-1 in the match.
 
UNA scored five of the first six points of the fourth set and never trailed.  Blocks by Mattrice Harris and Sargent made it 10-4 in favor of the home team.  A bad set from EKU kept the margin at six, 16-10.  The Colonels got as close as one, 18-17, on a block from Wagers, and again at 23-22 on a UNA attack error, but the visitors couldn't complete the comeback.  Griggs finished it moments later with a kill, closing out the set 25-23.
 
The Colonels (19-7, 9-5 ASUN) hit just .207 for the match.  North Alabama (16-10, 8-6 ASUN)  posted a .242 attack percentage.
 
Griggs finished with a match-best 15 kills for UNA.  She made just one error in 21 attempts for a .667 attack percentage.
 
EKU will play at in-state rival Bellarmine on Wednesday in Louisville.  The match, scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., will air live on ESPN+.