Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – In a match-up against in-state conference rival Bellarmine, Eastern Kentucky University won 3-1 at the Rick Erdmann Olympic Sports Training Center on Tuesday night. 
 
Both Sarah Mitchell and AG Vandagriff led the Colonels with 13 kills each, and Carson Ledford tallied six total blocks.  Mitchell made only two errors in 28 attempts for a .393 attack percentage and served up three aces.  Vandagriff hit .455 for the match. 
 
EKU (18-8, 9-4 ASUN) took the lead early in the first set, going up 10-3 on a kill from Paige Wagers.  The Colonels then went on a long  run (10-2), making the score 21-7 on an ace from Mitchell.  A kill by Mitchell won the first set, 25-14.  Mitchell had four kills in that set. 
 
The second set saw five lead changes and seven tied scores.  An EKU service error tied the set 16-16, and an attack error by Emilee Hill put the Knights up one.  Bellarmine remained ahead for the rest of the set.  A missed attempt by Kambree Lucas closed the second set, 25-21, in favor of the Knights. 
 
Bellarmine won the first point and held the lead for the majority of the third set until a kill by Mitchell tied it up, 16-16.  Two back-to-back kills by Ledford put the Colonels in the lead, 18-16, and pushed the momentum towards EKU.  A kill by Wagers secured the set 25-20. 
 
The Colonels took a large lead early on in the final set, with a kill by Lucas making the score 14-4.  A service ace by Lucas put the Colonels at match-point, 24-17.  The Knights went on a short run after that, but a kill by Mitchell won EKU the set, 25-21, and secured the match. 
 
Bellarmine's Natalie Bland, Erika Smith, and Anna Purichia all tied for a match-high of 13 kills.  
 
The Colonels hit .345 as a team, finishing with just 14 attack errors in 119 attempts.  The Knights (6-17, 3-10 ASUN) made 15 service errors. 
 
EKU's next match will be at 6 p.m. ET on Friday in DeLand, Florida against Atlantic Sun Conference opponent Stetson University.