CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Eastern Kentucky University's beach volleyball team closed out the Stacheville Beach Bash on Saturday afternoon with a 3-2 win over rival Austin Peay.
 
The Colonels clinched their second win over the Governors this season thanks to Riley Cutler and Madalyn Richardson scrapped a three-set win at the No. 2 match winning, 20-22, 21-18, 15-12.
 
The gutsy performance marked the second straight match the pair fought to a three-set win to clinch a match for EKU.
 
The rival teams split the first two matches at No. 4 and 5 with EK Lonergan and Gabriella Armitage moved to 7-6 as a duo this season with a three-set win of their own, 17-21, 21-12, 15-13.
 
EKU then took a 2-1 lead as Elpida Pitsigkoni and Reagan Sandlin earned the win at the No. 3 match in two sets, 21-18, 21-14.
 
The Govs responded at the No. 1 slot with a win to even the match at two bringing all eyes to the No. 2 match.
 
In a match where every point had to be earned, APSU's duo took the first set narrowly, before Cutler and Richardson fought back in the second set to even the match.
 
In the final and deciding set, the pairs traded points back and forth till it was 10-10. From there Cutler and Richardson were able to gain their first lead of the set and pushed their advantage to 14-12.
 
On the winning point, the duo went back to what had worked for them the day before with Cutler providing a beautiful pass for Richardson to perform a cross-court cut shot just over the net to secure the win.
 
UP NEXT
 
EKU will now prepare for the ULM Beach Invitational for four matches across two days, set to begin, March 29.
 
Eastern Kentucky 3, Austin Peay 2
1. MEAD, Kelsey/BIBOLOTTI, Aurora (APSU) def. Paityn Walker/Sarah Mitchell (EKU) 21-16, 21-13
 
2. Riley Cutler/Madalyn Richardson (EKU) def. SEWARD, Jamie/STEIN, Jillian (APSU) 20-22, 21-18, 15-12
 
3. Elpida Pitsigkoni/Reagan Sandlin (EKU) def. RITA, Anna/MARSHALL, Riley (APSU) 21-18, 21-14
 
4. Emily-Kate Lonergan/Gabriella Armitage (EKU) def. POWELL, Mikayla/PELAK, Montana-Rae (APSU) 17-21, 21-12, 15-13
 
5. SMITH, Tristin/WHEAT, Elizabeth (APSU) def. Bailey Rima/Rachel Mueller (EKU) 16-21, 24-22, 16-14