Box Score

CLEVELAND - Meghan Bray earned her third double-double of the season with 21 kills and 13 digs while finishing with a .500 hitting percentage and Alli Kirk recorded 24 digs, as the Oakland volleyball team (4-4) beat Eastern Kentucky (2-5) in straight sets in the opening match of the Cleveland State Tournament at Woodling Gymnasium Friday afternoon. The Golden Grizzlies won with set score of 25-14, 25-22 and 27-25.

"We played very well offensively today as our setters did a great job distributing the ball and following our scouting report," said head coach Rob Beam. "Alli (Kirk) also keyed a very strong defensive effort. I was very pleased with our effort and execution."

Kirk recorded her fourth 20-plus dig match of the season and led Oakland which combined for 69 digs in the match with Jillian Kulka adding 11 digs. Ciara Schultz and Alissa Valentine recorded 20 assists each, while Brittany Holbrook earned 12 kills in the match.

The Golden Grizzlies came out strong in the opening set as they jumped out to a 13-4 lead. Oakland combined for 16 kills and a .441 hitting percentage led by Bray and Holbrook combining for 12 kills as OU cruised to a 25-14 set victory.

In the second set, Oakland repeated their hitting efficiency, hitting .441 with 17 kills but could not pull away from the Colonels as the teams combined for 11 ties early in the set. With the scored tied 16-16, Taylor Humm earned two kills and Bray had three of her own, including the set winner, as OU took a 2-0 advantage with a 25-22 set win.

In the final set, EKU came out strong taking control of the early part of the set by stifling the Oakland attack with an 11-7 advantage. The Golden Grizzlies battled back to tie the match at 17-17 as both teams fought for control. Both teams were tied at 25-25 as OU would get a Bray kill, the 21st of the set for Oakland, and then seal the win with an Amanda Baker block for a 27-25 set win and the match.

Oakland will be on the court tomorrow as they will conclude action in the Cleveland State Tournament with a match against Buffalo at 10 a.m. and then the final match of the tournament against host Cleveland State at 7 p.m. Fans can watch the final match against the Vikings for free on the Horizon League Network.

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