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EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The Eastern Illinois volleyball squad ended the Michigan State Spartan Invitational on a high note on Saturday, stunning ACC power Clemson in a four-set affair (21-25, 25-16, 25-20, 25-22), after having been swept earlier in the day by the host squad (25-21, 25-11, 25-18).

With the split, the Panthers improve to 4-3 on the season and snapped a three-match losing streak in the process, while Clemson and Michigan State move to 7-2 and 6-2 overall, respectively.

Against Clemson, senior Kelsey Orr led the Panther attack, notching her 18th career kill-dig double-double off 22 put-a-ways and 16 ups, while her .372 offensive clip also led all players on the court. With her fine weekend performance, the outside hitter represented the Panthers on the All-Tournament squad, marking the first such honor in her Eastern career.

Adding to the EIU offense was freshman outside hitter Reynae Hutchinson, who earned her first double-digit kill total as a Panther, via 11 kills and a .292 attack mark.

Senior Jorie Dieter chipped in an additional 10 put-downs as EIU led the Tigers in a variety of team statistical categories, including total kills (60 to 43), attack (.228 to .186), assists (50 to 38), aces (four to three), and digs (48 to 46). Clemson did out-block the Panthers via a 15 to eight advantage at the net.

Junior 'quarterback' Chrissie Albers ran the Panther offense, tallying 46 assists in the come-from-behind win.

Defensively, sophomore middle Alison Berens was a presence at the net as she notched five blocks, with senior Erin Hake and Dieter adding four and three roofs, respectively, as well, while junior libero Brittany Wallace upped nine attacks.

After dropping the tough first set at 25-21, the Panthers rebounded by taking the second frame after both squads exchanged the lead six times and tied it up on nine occasions.

The all important third set belonged entirely to EIU, as the Panthers led from start to finish, downing the ACC power, 25-16, before picking up the hard-fought win via a fourth set 25-22 battle.

In the morning sweep at the hands of Michigan State, the Panthers gave the Big Ten power all they could handle in the opening frame, leading the Spartans before MSU would ride the arm of Spartan Jenilee Rathje, who helped the home team pull away for the 25-21 win. In the opening set, EIU actually out-hit MSU, .219 to .208 thanks to a 15-9 advantage in total kills. MSU won the set thanks to a block lead of five to one. EIU senior setter Kylie Cavanah, making her first start in that position this season, made the most of her time on the court, as she dished out an assist on each of the 15 Panther put-a-ways.

Unfortunately, the last two sets would belong to the Spartans as they led from start to finish enroute to the 25-11 and 25-18 victories. It marked the second sweep of that weekend that the Panthers had to endure.

Just like in the Clemson match, Orr would also lead the way for EIU against MSU, thanks to an eight kill, six dig performance. 

With Eastern Michigan topping the host Spartans in the tourney finale, the Panthers earned the third place trophy.  If MSU would have won, going 3-0 on the weekend, there would have been a three-way tie for second place between EMU, Clemson and EIU as each team would have finished 1-2.

EIU will return to Charleston and quickly prepare for the final early season tournament play of 2010, as they travel to Pennsylvania to face four foes at the Pitt Blue & Gold Invitational next weekend. The Panthers will battle Robert Morris (Penn.) and Washington on Friday, prior to taking on Bowling Green and Saint Francis (Penn.) on Saturday. 

FINAL TOURNAMENT STANDINGS:
1. Eastern Michigan (2-1)
2. Michigan State (2-1)
3. Eastern Illinois (1-2)
4. Clemson (1-2)

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM:
Rachel Iaquaniello (EMU) - MVP
Ashley Mason (EMU) 
Kelsey Orr (EIU)
Natalie Patzin (Clemson)
Jenilee Rathje (MSU)
Haley Stein (EMU)
Megan Schatzle (MSU)

… for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID