RICHMOND, Ky. – The Lipscomb University Volleyball team, despite winning the first set, dropped a four-set bout to Eastern Kentucky University on Friday night from the Olympic Sports and Training Center

Final Score: Eastern Kentucky 3, Lipscomb 1 (25-15, 24-26, 25-20, 25-21)
Location: Richmond, Kentucky (Olympic Sports and Training Center)
Records: Lipscomb (10-11, 6-5), Eastern Kentucky (16-7, 8-3)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Lipscomb won the first four points of the opening set thanks to three straight kills from Ella Durham and two from Berkley Mischler. 

The Bisons had leads of 7-3 and 12-6 early in the frame after a Cora ter Kuile spike and a Hallie Hendrickx ace. 

Eastern Kentucky made it a 13-10 deficit thanks to a quick 4-1 run, but Lipscomb responded with a 7-1 run of their own to take the opener, 25-15. 

The Bisons came out swinging in the opener, hitting .423, totaling 14 kills in the frame. This is the fourth time this season LUV has hit .400 or better in the first set. 

Set two went back-and-forth for most of the set with 13 ties and five lead changes. The Bisons trailed 20-16 and rallied for an 8-2 run to force set point, 24-22 after back-to-back blocks by Durham and Mischler. 

However, EKU scored the final four points that flipped the score to 26-24 to even the match at one set apiece.

In the third, the Bisons got out to a 7-3 start with three kills by Courtney Jones and an assisted block by Jones and Brooklyn Fuchs. 

However, EKU used a 12-8 run, including a six-point stretch, to tie the set at 15. 

From there, the Colonels took control. A 9-3 run, including two kills from Emilee Hill made it 24-18. Despite the Bisons winning the next two points, the home standing Colonels took a 2-1 lead with a 25-20 set three victory. 

In set four, it was Eastern Kentucky that got out to a 7-3 lead and never looked back. 

Despite Lipscomb making it a 22-21 deficit on a Jones block, EKU won the final three points to win the contest in four sets. 

QUOTABLE
Hear from Brandon Rosenthal after the match.
 

KEY STATISTICS
Ella Durham led the Bisons attack with 13 kills and added nine digs and five assisted blocks. 

Cora ter Kuile matched a career-best 12 kills and hit .370 on the night, while Berkley Mischler scored 14 points with 10 kills and six total blocks. 

Kenzie Kucks had 17 digs to lead Lipscomb, and Kelsey Schenck added 11.

UP NEXT
The weekend trip concludes on Saturday at Bellarmine in Louisville.