OXFORD, Ohio – September 2, 2023
Wins over Cleveland State and Miami (Ohio) on Saturday gave the Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team a weekend sweep of the Miami/Best Western Invitational.
The Colonels (4-2) opened the event Friday with a 3-1 win over Florida Atlantic. EKU finished it off with a pair of 3-0 victories over Cleveland State and the host Redhawks on Saturday.
EKU will play its first home match of the season on Tuesday when Marshall visits Baptist Health Arena. The match is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
The trio of AG Vandagriff, Sarah Mitchell and Josie Schmitendorf earned Miami/Best Western Invitational All-Tournament honors. Vandagriff was selected as the MVP after averaging 2.70 kills and 1.30 blocks per set over three matches. Mitchell averaged 3.20 kills while hitting .342. Schmitendorf averaged 4.50 digs per set.
Mitchel had a team-high 10 kills against Cleveland State (3-2) with a .286 attack percentage and two block assists. Kambree Lucas totaled nine kills, just two errors and a .350 attack percentage. Schmitendorf led all players with 15 digs. Chloe Mason had 19 assists and four aces.
With the first set tied 8-8, a kill from Lucas gave EKU the lead for good. That kill also began an 8-0 run. Carson Ledford’s kill capped it and gave the Colonels a 16-8 advantage. Mitchell’s kill ended the first set 25-13.
CSU had a 13-12 lead in the second set before a 10-2 run handed control to EKU. Mitchell’s kill and a Viking attack error finished the run and put the Colonels ahead 22-15. A kill from Lucas polished off the 7-point win, 25-18.
Mitchell’s service ace early in the third set broke a 5-5 tie and EKU led the rest of the way. A kill from Paige Wagers and one from Lucas made it a 4-point lead, 15-11. Three straight Colonel points – two kills from Vandagriff sandwiched around a kill from Lucas – pushed EKU in front by seven, 20-13. Freshman McKenzie Laubach finished off the set, 25-18, and clinched the match with a kill.
Lucas scored 13 kills while Mitchell added 12 kills and a .455 attack percentage in the win over Miami (Ohio). Vandagriff had eight kills and three blocks.
With EKU clinging to a 1-point lead at 21-20 in the first set, Vandagriff recorded a kill and Miami had an attack error to give the Colonels a 3-point cushion. After the Redhawks closed back within two, EKU recorded the final two points, including an ace by freshman Emiliee Hill, to take the set 25-21.
The Colonels never trailed in the second and third sets. The second frame was tied at 20-20 before a kill from Katie McKune and a Miami error created some space. Another Redhawk error gave EKU set-point at 24-21. Mitchell finished it off with a kill.
After Miami (2-4) closed to within three, 19-16, in the third set, EKU scored five straight points to reach match-point. A Redhawks service error moments later ended the set, 25-17, and the match.
