Box Score

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Eastern Kentucky University beat Virginia Commonwealth, 3-1, to wrap up play at the Winthrop Invitational on Saturday.
 
It was the Colonels' ninth straight win, their longest winning streak since putting together 13 straight victories in 2004.
 
EKU (10-2) will begin Atlantic Sun Conference play at home against in-state rival Bellarmine on Wednesday.  The match is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.  There will be an EKU Volleyball t-shirt giveaway and postgame bingo for EKU students.
 
Four Colonels finished with 10 or more kills against the Rams.  Carson Ledford had 14 kills, only one error, a .500 attack percentage and eight blocks.  Kambree Lucas also totaled 14 kills.  AG Vandagriff contributed 13 kills, a .323 attack percentage and two blocks.  Sarah Mitchell finished with 12 kills, 13 digs and two blocks.
 
EKU hit .260 as a team while limiting Virginia Commonwealth to a .208 attack percentage.
 
The Colonels had a 21-19 lead in the first set before the Rams rolled off six unanswered to take the opening frame, 25-21.
 
VCU led for much of the first half of the second set, going up 14-10 on a kill from Ana Brangioni.  EKU answered with a 5-1 run to tie the set.  A kill from Lucas gave her team a 17-16 lead and the maroon and white never trailed again.  The final two points of the set came on kills from Mitchell and Chloe Mason for a 25-19 win and a 1-1 tie.
 
After Virginia Commonwealth tied the third set at 8-8, the Colonels went on an 8-2 run to seize control.  Back-to-back errors from the Rams capped it and put EKU ahead 16-10.  The Colonels scored the final three points of the set, including a kill from Molly Shomock, to earn a 25-18 win and a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
In an effort to keep the match alive, the Rams took a 16-15 lead in the fourth following consecutive errors by the Colonels.  This time EKU engineered a 7-2 run to build a 4-point lead.  A kill from Vandagriff and an ace by Mason finished off the run for a 22-18 edge.  VCU closed within two on two occasions but never any closer.  Vandagriff's kill ended the set, 25-22, and the match.
 
Josie Schmitendorf led all players with 25 digs for the Colonels.  Mason had 27 assists, nine digs, three aces and two kills.
 
Parker Hartzell led VCU (3-7) with 14 kills.