Pre-Weekend Release (PDF)
APSU Match Program (PDF)
TSU Match Program (PDF)

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Illinois volleyball will complete a three-match homestand this weekend, entertaining two consecutive Ohio Valley Conference foes. First up is a Friday evening contest with Austin Peay, followed by a Saturday afternoon matchup with Tennessee State.

SCOUTING THE LADY GOVS
After finishing in last place in the OVC standings last season, the Lady Govs have rebounded this season and currently sport a 12-6 overall record and 4-2 league mark.

Junior Stephanie Champine leads APSU with 226 kills off a .233 attack percentage. Sophomore Jessica Mollman not only leads her squad in hitting with a .280 clip, but also has 31 total blocks to her credit. The setting tandom of sophomore Sarah Alisaleh and freshman Marie Mullins have tallied 427 and 299 assists, respectively. Alisaleh also possesses a lethal serve, nailing 40 thus far this season. Defensively, Peay is led by senior libero Caroline Frens who has recorded 273 digs.

A quick look at the team stats shows that Austin Peay leads their opposition in kills (900 to 812), hitting (.231 to .184), assists (845 to 740), aces (115 to 80), and digs (1163 to 1062), but trail in total blocks (83.0 to 106.0. 

Austin Peay was the only OVC squad that the Panthers swept in both matchups last season, winning on the road in five sets prior to capturing a four set home finale on senior day. Overall, EIU enjoys a 15-9 advantage over the Lady Govs in the all-time series. In fact, Eastern has won the last six meetings versus APSU, with the last Peay win occuring way back in 2003.

SCOUTING THE LADY TIGERS
After capturing the 2007 OVC tournament title to earn the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament berth, TSU enters the weekend with a 4-9 overall record and 3-3 OVC mark prior to a Friday night match at SEMO. On Tuesday night, the Lady Tigers dropped a tough five-set home match to Nashville rival Belmont, after battling back to tie the contest 2-all, TSU dropped the deciding fifth set, 17-15.

As of Oct. 9, senior standout Christian Lowe leads all TSU players with 195 total kills, behind a .177 hitting percentage. Lowe is also a presence at the net defensively as she currently has 31 total blocks to lead all TSU players. Two Lady Tigers run the offense as the setting duo of senior Candace Saleaumua and junior transfer Yamari Padilla-Collazo have notched 215 and 210 assists, respectively. Padilla-Collazo also has the squads' best hitting mark with a .198 swing average. Meanwhile, Saleaumua not only also leads her squad with 178 digs, but ties junior Shawna Ruiz with 12 service aces.

Team-wise, TSU trails their opponents in every major stat category, including kills (579 to 610), attack average (.135 to .199), assists (510 to 554), aces (60 to 90), digs (739 to 748), and just barely trails in total blocks (25 to 26).

A quick look at the series history between TSU and EIU exhibits a study of extremes, as the Panthers won the first 18 meetings between the two squads, before dropping three consecutive matches to the Lady Tigers, first in single season meetings in 2005 and 2006, as well as the first meeting in 2007. EIU rebounded by downing TSU in a four set home match last season, which was witnessed by a new school-record crowd of 2,004 over Homecoming Weekend. So Eastern currently enjoys a sizeable advantage in the all-time series over TSU, 19-3.

SHAINA BOYLAN BOUNCES BACK
Junior libero Shaina Boylan returned to the Panther lineup this past Tuesday night in the home loss to Southeast Missouri. After missing 11 straight matches due to illness, Boylan rebounded by notching 20 digs to lead all players on the court.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Over the course of the next two weekends, the Panthers will take part in a season-long four-set road swing. On Oct. 17-18, EIU heads to UT Martin and Murray State, prior to a Nov. 24-25 trip to Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State. The Panthers return home for a rematch with UT Martin on Oct. 28 but head to SEMO and SIU-Edwardsville on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, respectively.

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