Eastern Kentucky University Athletics

Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky volleyball team secured its spot in the 6-team United Athletic Conference Tournament after beating second-place Central Arkansas, 3-0, on Friday at Baptist Health Arena.
 
Six of the nine UAC teams will qualify for the league tournament, which will be held Nov. 19-21 in Little Rock, Arkansas.  The top two seeded teams will receive a first round bye into the semifinals.
 
The Colonels (20-2, 10-0 UAC) beat the Sugar Bears by scores of 25-18, 25-16 and 25-18.
 
The duo of Addison Burke and Emma Closurdo combined for 26 kills and only two errors.  Burke led all players with 14 kills.  She made only one error in 24 attempts for a .542 attack percentage.  The sophomore outside hitter also had eight digs, three blocks and two aces.  Closurdo finished with 12 kills and only one error in 20 attempts for a .550 hitting percentage.  The junior right side also had four blocks.
 
Behind a match-best seven blocks from Caitlyn Flees, Eastern Kentucky held an 11-6 advantage in blocks over the team who entered the game leading the conference in blocks.
 
With the first set tied 14-14, Eastern used an 8-1 run to create a 4-point cushion.  An ace from Alexis Bull put the home team ahead 19-15 and forced the Sugar Bears to call a timeout.  Another ace from Bull capped the run and made it 22-15.  A kill from Burke ended the opener 25-18.
 
After Central Arkansas tied the second set at 10-10, Eastern Kentucky scored eight of the next nine again.  Audrey Hudson's kill sent her team into the media time out in front 15-11.  A kill from Hudson finished off the set-changing run and pushed it to an 18-11 lead.  The difference went to eight, 20-12, on a block by Bull and Emilee Hill.  A block from Bull and Closurdo ended the second, 25-16.
 
UCA scored the first three points of the third set and four of the first five.  However, the Colonels came back.  An ace from Burke tied it at 6-6.  The Sugar Bears had an attack error on the next series and Eastern led the rest of the way.  Burke's kill had her team ahead 15-11 at the media timeout.  A kill from Hill and another attack error stretched the margin to seven, 21-14.  Closurdo put the set away, 25-18, with a kill.
 
Eastern Kentucky's Cassidy Trahan had a match-high 12 digs.  Hudson finished with seven kills and a .312 attack percentage.  The Colonels out-hit Central Arkansas .354 to .117.
 
Sarah Carnathan led the Sugar Bears with 11 kills.
 
EKU's 4-match home stand will conclude on Thursday against Texas-Arlington.  First serve on Youth Night is scheduled for 6 p.m.