WILKES-BARE – The Wilkes University women's volleyball team took the third set of its Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) match Tuesday night at the Marts Center against visiting Eastern University but fell by a 3-1 score (19-25, 12-25, 25-20, 15-25). It is just the second time since 2010 that the Colonels have taken a set against the perennial conference power.

The Colonels are now 11-11 overall and 2-2 in the MAC Freedom this season. Eastern improved to 12-7 and a perfect 4-0 in the conference.

Alex Ferrier (Auburn, PA/Blue Mountain) had a terrific night offensively for Wilkes as the senior set a season-high with 15 kills and had a .357 hitting percentage. Jamey Mikovich (Nesquehoning, PA/Panther Valley) also recorded 15 kills for the Colonels. She now has 1,310 career kills to stand just 20 away from setting the school record.

Mikovich kept the Colonels ahead 4-3 and 5-4 in the opening set with kills before the Eagles gained the lead with a three-point run. Wilkes tied the score at seven following a block by Laura Booths (Lake Ariel, PA/Western Wayne) and Michele Natale (Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon) but then a four-point run gave Eastern breathing room. The Colonels couldn't claw closer than two points the rest of the set as Eastern won 25-19.

The Eagles flew out to a 7-1 lead in the second set but following two consecutive service aces by Ferrier, the Colonels only trailed 9-6. The visitors were able to rebound and put together a sustained run of 16-6 to win the second set 25-12 and take a 2-0 lead in the match.

The third set was a different story as Wilkes set the tone early with a fast 10-4 start. Ferrier and Mikovich each had two kills for Wilkes during the rally. After Eastern cut the lead in half at 12-9, Wilkes had a response in the form of an 8-1 run. Ferrier started the run with two kills and the Colonels were aided by four attack errors in a row by the Eagles offense as the home team led 20-10. Eastern would answer with six of the next seven points but a Mikovich kill and a block by Mikovich and Natale helped right the ship for the Colonels as they closed in on the set win at 23-16. Natale put away the final point for Wilkes off a pass from Karlye Huffman (Sugar Run, PA/Wyalusing) as the Colonels won set three 25-20.

Wilkes' first lead of the fourth set came after a Mikovich kill to make the score 4-3. Mikovich then tied the score at six and the Colonels went back ahead 7-6 on an Eagles attack error. A five-point run by Eastern followed that proved to be the decisive points in the set. In all, Eastern went on a 18-9 run to take the fourth set 25-15 and the match 3-1.

Huffman directed the Wilkes offense with 35 assists. Mikovich led Wilkes at the net with four blocks while Natale added three. In the back row, it was senior libero Julie Murphy (Mountaintop, PA/Crestwood) that led the Colonels with 14 digs while Mikovich had eight.

Caroline Shelby led Eastern with 17 kills while Katie Stenby had 14 digs.

Wilkes is off until Wednesday, October 16 when the Colonels will travel across town to face King's College for a MAC Freedom match at 7:00 p.m. The Colonels are 7-5 against the Monarchs since 2009.