By: Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information Coordinator

RICHMOND, Ky.—Once again the Tennessee Tech volleyball team (5-17, 3-6 OVC) takes on Eastern Kentucky (EKU) (6-18, 5-4 OVC), but this time on the Colonels turf. EKU topped the Golden Eagles in a four-set match (3-1) with winning set scores of 25-21, 25-15, 15-25, and 25-14.

"I thought we fought pretty hard," Golden Eagle Sharon Anderson said. "We had some good runs but just had too many errors."

Tech took the early lead in the first set opening with a score of 5-2. The Colonels then tied the match at 6-6. EKU then went on to take the 9-7 lead with a kill from the Colonel's Celina Sanks. The Golden Eagles fought back to tie the match at 10, and the two teams continued to remain in close proximity from there. EKU again took a slight lead at 15-13 and continued to hold the advantage over Tech. The Colonels stretched their lead to four-points at 20-16 and then finished out the first set winning 25-21.

"It didn't go the way we would have hoped," head coach Dave Zelenock said. "Eastern Kentucky came out dramatically better than they did last week completely and played phenomenal."

EKU came out strong in the second set opening with a 5-0 lead. Kills by Cody Dodd and Shaneice James brought Tech back within three at 6-3. The Golden Eagles continued to pursue the Colonels and kills by Kellie Williams and Dodd helped close the EKU lead down to 8-7. The Colonels responded to the Tech gain and went on a 4-1 run to bring the score to 12-8 causing the Golden Eagles to take a timeout. EKU continued to play hard coming off of the break and created an eight-point lead at 16-8. From there, the Colonels cruised to a second set victory 25-15.

In the third, Kirsten Brugere opened set play with a service ace and Tech continued to take the 5-1 lead off of a kill by Dodd. EKU put on pressure and pulled within two at 7-5. Another Golden Eagle service ace, this time from Allison Morrett, gave Tech the four-point lead at 9-5. The Colonels pressed on and again closed the gap pulling with one point of the Golden Eagles at 9-8. From there, Tech again created a small lead at 13-10 with a kill from Dodd. The Golden Eagles then went on a 4-2 run to pull ahead 17-12 and forced the Colonels to break for a timeout. Tech continued to hold strong and pushed their lead to 21-13 off of a kill by Williams before closing out a third set victory 25-15.

It was a tight fourth set, with EKU opening with the slight advantage at 7-5. The Colonels continued to hold on and created a four-point lead at 11-7. From there, EKU went on a 7-4 run and pulled ahead by six at 18-12. The Colonels stayed tough and closed out the fourth set and the match 25-14.

Dodd led the Golden Eagles with 15 kills and 8 digs. Sharon Anderson picked up 34 assists in the match while teammate Williams put up 9 kills. Celina Sanks led EKU with 13 kills.

"We will be ready," Zelenock remarked. "We both know what each other is going to do, and they are at home this time so they are going to be pumped and we will have to play hard."

The Golden Eagles return to action tomorrow when they head to Morehead, Ky. to take on the Morehead State Eagles in a 1 p.m. contest.