Box Score
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The trio of
Audrey Hudson,
Emma Closurdo and
Alexis Bull combined for 32 kills, 16 digs and 12 blocks in a 5-set victory over James Madison at Western Kentucky University's Alyssa Cavanaugh Classic on Thursday.
The Colonels (5-1) won by scores of 18-15, 25-23, 27-25, 15-25 and 15-11.
EKU scored four of the first five points in the fifth set, going up 4-1 on a kill from Closurdo. A kill from Hudson made it 7-3 and led to a timeout for James Madison. The Colonels went up 9-3 by scoring the first two points out of the time out, a block from
Caitlyn Flees and
Emersyn Robbins and a kill from Flees, forcing a second JMU timeout. The Dukes rallied with five straight to cut the deficit to one. A kill from Ayen Nhial completed the comeback and tied it at 10-10.
Back-to-back kills from
Emilee Hill and Hudson pushed the Colonels back out in front 12-10. After Kennedy Louisell cut the margin to one with a kill for JMU, EKU closed out the match with three straight points. The run started with a service error. Flees followed with an ace. Hill and Bull combined for a block to end it 15-11.
Hudson had a team-high 14 kills to go along with 14 digs, one block and one ace. Closurdo finished with 13 kills, three blocks and two digs. Bull contributed eight blocks and five kills.
EKU scored four of the first five points in the first set, but JMU came back. An ace from Lindsey Large gave James Madison its first lead at 11-10. Three straight points put the Colonels back in front 18-17, but EKU didn't score again in the set. An attack error ended the opener, 25-18.
The second set remained close throughout. A kill from Robbins tied it for EKU at 18-18. A kill by Hill kept the Colonels within one, 22-21, before a JMU attack error tied it at 22-22. A kill from Bull put Eastern Kentucky on top, 23-22. A block from Bull and Hill handed EKU set-point at 24-23. After James Madison called a time out, a block from Bull and Closurdo ended the second, 25-23, and tied the match.
Just like the second set, the third remained close until the end. Eastern Kentucky was down 17-14 before scoring four straight. A kill from Flees and a bad set put the Colonels ahead 18-17 and forced a JMU timeout. The set was tied four more times, including at 21-21 after a kill from Hudson, before the Dukes scored the next three points to reach set-point at 24-21 on a block from Addie Norman and Anna Wilson.
The Colonels answered with three straight of their own, keyed by kills from Hudson and Closurdo to tie it at 24-24. A block from Bull and Robbins made it a 4-0 run and handed EKU set-point, 25-24. Wilson tied it up at 25-25 with a kill. However, a kill from Robbins and an ace off the serve of
Cassidy Trahan gave Eastern Kentucky the set, 27-25, and a 2-1 lead in the match.
The Dukes jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the fourth set and never trailed on their way to tying the match at 2-2.
Louisell had a match-best 19 kills for James Madison (2-3).
JMU out-hit the Colonels .221 to .143, had a 17-12 advantage in blocks and served up six more aces.
EKU's next match at the Alyssa Cavanaugh Classic will be on Friday against Pepperdine at 4 p.m. ET.
