Eastern Kentucky University’s volleyball team secured a 3-0 victory over Bellarmine University in an in-state Atlantic Sun Conference rivalry match on Wednesday in Louisville. The Colonels took the win with set scores of 25-14, 25-12, and 25-19.
AG Vandagriff led the charge for EKU (11-7, 2-3 ASUN) with 10 kills, making just one error for a .500 attack percentage and adding two blocks. Emilee Hill contributed eight kills and 15 assists, while Carson Ledford posted six kills with no errors, achieving a .600 attack percentage alongside three blocks.
EKU hit .283 as a team, committing only 12 errors in 116 attempts. The Colonels also out-blocked the Knights 7-2, while holding Bellarmine to a .080 attack percentage.
The first set saw EKU break a 4-4 tie with a six-point run, capped by a kill from Paige Wagers, putting the Colonels ahead 10-4. Vandagriff’s kill stretched the lead to 16-8, and EKU closed the set on a five-point run, finishing with an ace from Kambree Lucas for a 25-14 win.
Bellarmine started strong in the second set, jumping out to a 7-4 lead on a kill from Jayda Harris. However, the Colonels responded with 14 straight points to take control, as Ledford’s kills helped EKU surge to an 18-7 advantage. McKenzie Laubach ended the set with a kill to secure a 25-12 win.
In the third set, Bellarmine tied it 4-4, but EKU quickly regained the lead with a four-point run, highlighted by an ace from Cooper Abney. Vandagriff sealed the victory with a final kill, giving the Colonels a 25-19 set win and the match sweep.
Natalie Bland led Bellarmine (4-11, 1-4 ASUN) with 10 kills.
EKU returns home to host first-place Florida Gulf Coast University on Saturday at 2 p.m., with a t-shirt giveaway at the match.