RICHMOND, Ky. – The University of Central Arkansas volleyball team dropped another road test at Eastern Kentucky on Saturday. The three-set defeat drops UCA to 6-11 overall, and 0-5 in the conference.
The Sugar Bears had an opportunity to dictate the flow and take momentum early in the opening frame. UCA led 9-5 before the Colonels woke up and seized the momentum. With UCA up 10-6, a run by the Colonels made it 17-12 in favor of EKU before the Sugar Bears could blink. The Colonels rode the momentum from that run, as well as a 5-1 run down the stretch, to close out the first set, 25-17.
In the second set, a 3-0 Sugar Bear lead was very short lived, as EKU ran off eight in a row to take a firm 8-3 lead. UCA was able to get the lead down to 14-11, but it would not get any closer than that, as EKU immediately went on a 5-1 run to make it 19-12. Later, a 4-1 run by UCA made it 22-18, but it was not enough, as EKU would take the set, 25-19.
UCA had hope early in the third set, answering a 4-0 Colonels run with a 3-0 run of its own to tie the set at six all. Unfortunately for the Sugar Bears, EKU immediately answered with a 6-0 run to make it 12-6. From there, the Sugar Bears had a tough time getting back in the mix, allowing a 6-2 run by the Colonels to make it a 20-10 deficit, which would prove to be too much for UCA to overcome. EKU would take care of business with a 5-1 run to finish off the Sugar Bears, 25-12.
Laci Bohannan finished Saturday's match with 14 kills, matching her season high. Mackenzie Vernon was second on the Sugar Bears with eight kills, giving her 28 kills across the two matches this weekend. Caylan Koons finished with 36 kills and two digs. Jenna DeLaMater and Lexie Gregory each finished with 12 digs to lead the team.
The Sugar Bears will continue the road trip at Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday, October 7th at 5:00 p.m.
