Eastern Kentucky University Athletics

Box Score vs. Presbyterian  |  Box Score vs. Tennessee Tech

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky began the 2026 Geri Polvino Invitational with a 3-0 victory over Presbyterian College, and a 3-1 win against Tennessee Tech on Friday at Baptist Health Arena.
 
In other GPI action, Appalachian State beat Tennessee Tech 3-1, and then beat Presbyterian 3-0. 
 
The event will conclude on Saturday with Presbyterian and Tennessee Tech playing at 11 a.m.  EKU and Appalachian State will play for the championship at 2 p.m.
 
EKU (9-2) beat Presbyterian by scores of 25-13, 25-10 and 25-15.  The Colonels beat TTU by scores of 25-23, 21-25, 25-20 and 25-13.
 
In the first set against Presbyterian (6-6), the Blue Hose scored the first point but the Colonels scored the next six and cruised.  A block from Alexis Bull made it 16-7.  Emma Closurdo's kill pushed it to 10, 20-10.  A service error ended the opener 25-13. 
 
A 6-1 run in the second set allowed EKU to turn a 1-point lead, 7-6, into a 6-point advantage.  Another block from Bull finished off the run and made it 13-7.  After PC closed to five at 14-9, the Colonels scored seven unanswered to put it away.  Closurdo's kill made it 21-9.  A kill from Emilee Hill and an attack error ended the set 25-10.
 
Eastern Kentucky jumped out to an 11-3 lead in the third set.  A kill from Emersyn Robbins followed by two attack errors from the Blue Hose pushed the margin to 10, 16-6.  Hill's kill put the home team ahead by 11, 22-11.  The set ended, 25-15, on a PC service error.
 
Addison Burke led all players with 14 kills.  She made only two errors in 28 attempts for a .429 attack percentage.  Cassidy Trahan had a match-best 10 digs.
 
EKU limited Presbyterian to a -.043 attack percentage.  The Blue Hose had 22 attack errors and only 18 kills.  The Colonels hit .253 for the match.
 
Meredith Reisman had a team-high six kills for Presbyterian.
 
In the first set against Tennessee Tech, the Golden Eagles overcame a 5-point deficit midway through the match.  After TTU tied it, 23-23, on a kill from Alayna Pierce the Colonels scored the final two points.  Burke finished it off with a kill, 25-23.
 
In the second set, Eastern came from behind to tie it at 20-20 on a kill from Bull.  However, Tech finished off the set with a 5-1 run to win 25-21 and tie the match 1-1.
 
Tennessee Tech took a 14-12 lead on a service error in the third set before the Colonels seized control with an 8-2 run.  A service error and an ace off the serve of Caitlyn Flees pushed EKU in front 20-16.  A TTU service error ended it 25-20 and put Eastern Kentucky ahead 2-1 in the match.
 
After the Golden Eagles (3-7) tied the fourth set at 8-8 on a kill from Audrey Berkebile, the Colonels rolled off seven unanswered.  Back-to-back TTU attack errors handed Eastern a 15-8 advantage.  Burke made it a 9-point margin, 19-10, with a kill.  EKU scored the final five points to win the set 25-13 and claim the match 3-1.
 
Burke had a team-high 12 kills.  Hill had nine kills, just one error and a .421 attack percentage.  Bull totaled nine kills without an error.  Trahan led all players with 21 digs.
 
Berkebile posted a match-best 18 kills with just four errors in 41 attempts for a .341 attack percentage.
 
EKU hit .303 in the match but made nine service errors and was out-blocked 6-4.  TTU posted a .222 attack percentage.