RICHMOND, Ky. - Upping its season-win total by 10 this season, Eastern Kentucky University's volleyball team closed its 1999 year with a hard-fought first-round Ohio Valley Conference Tournament loss to Austin Peay, 3-1.

EKU, 13-18 on the season, closed the year with a rush, winning five of its last nine matches to go 8-10 in league play and finish in sixth place in the final OVC standings. This spot in the standings matched Eastern against Austin Peay in the first round.

"We started out so strong like we knew we would, but we just could not sustain it," said second-year head coach Lori Duncan. "This was a great opportunity for this team to get in and see what it will take to not only get in the tournament next year, but to advance and play for a championship.

"This was a pretty competitive tournament. I have tremendous faith in our team and am looking forward to the growth we're going to get this spring as we continue toward an OVC championship."

In the OVC tourney match with Austin Peay, Eastern began by winning the first game, 15-12. But then lost consecutive games to the Lady Govs, 11-15, 11-15, 6-15.

"I thought Becky (Galati) and Kristen (Campbell) played great. Courtney (Bowen) played OK, but she has played better in other matches leading up to this one," said Duncan.

Bowen, a junior outside hitter, and Galati, a freshman outside hitter, received recognition on the OVC post-season all-conference squads. Bowen, who led the Colonels this season with 445 kills, was a second-team All-OVC pick, while Galati, who finished second on the team in kills with 363, was a member of the All-OVC Newcomer Team.

"We knew going in that '99 was going to be a better year and was going to be a building season for 2000," said Duncan. "I look for this team to do some things next year and will definitely be a fun team to watch."