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CHARLESTON, Ill. -- After hitting the road for three consecutive matches to open Ohio Valley Conference action, the Eastern Illinois volleyball squad returns home to host Tennessee State and Austin Peay on Friday and Saturday.  EIU is 7-8 overall and 1-2 in conference heading into the weekend.

First serve Friday evening against the Lady Tigers has changed to a 6 pm start, nullifying any previously published start times posted on posters, schedule cards, etc.  The match versus APSU on Saturday afternoon is still set for 2 pm, with both matches to be played in EIU's Lantz Arena.  Admission is free.

QUICK LOOK AT THE PANTHERS
... 15 matches into the 2009 season and this current EIU unit has already picked up more wins than the entire 2008 campaign (5-24) combined, as they sit at 7-8 overall.
... EIU has already picked up three third place finishes at the IPFW Invite, Denver Invite and ISU Classic, while also winning their home opener against instate foe Illinois-Chicago a week ago.
... Leading the squad is junior outside hitter Alex Zwettler, who has nailed 190 kills to average almost four kills a set. She also has 170 digs, which is second highest on the squad.
... Sophomore hitter Melanie Boykins has chipped in 131 kills in the middle attack and is a force at the net with 40 blocks, including 33 assisted stops.
... Outside hitter Jessica Wheeler ranks third in kills with 123 put-a-ways. The lone EIU senior leads all players with 15 service aces.
... Junior transfer Kylie Cavanah has ran the Panther offense all season and has tallied 554 assists (10.45 aps) to rank as one of the top setters in the OVC.
... Defensively, sophomore libero Brittany Wallace has 216 total ups (4.08 dps)

BOYKINS TABBED FOR FIRST CAREER OVC WEEKLY HONOR
Sophomore middle hitter Melanie Boykins earned this past week's 'Offensive Player of the Week' award following a nice weekend of action. She set a new career single-match kill total with 16 put-a-ways at Jacksonville State, while also hitting .542 in the match with only three hitting errors. She also only had three errors in EIU's win at Tennessee Tech as she smashed 13 kills behind a .345 attack. This weekly honor is the first such honor by a Panther volleyball player since 2006, when currently student assistant coach Shaina Boylan earned the 'Defensive Player of the Week' honor in early September.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Tennessee State is currently 1-10 overall and 0-1 in OVC action, after losing recently to the Panthers' other weekend opponent, Austin Peay. The Tigers dropped a four-set affair at the Lady Govs homecourt by scores of 25-11, 19-25, 25-12, 25-20. Their lone victory of the season came against ULM back on August 29. 

TSU is led by sophomore Terakka Walker's 93 kills, while setter Yamari Padilla-Collazo not only runs the offense but also sports the best hitting percentage on the team, behind a .301 mark and 44 kills. She has 321 assists so far in her final year in the Tiger lineup. Defensively, libero Calasia Williams has 115 digs, but Walker is a very close second with 110 ups. At the net, junior Vicmari Prospero has 19 total blocks. 

The Tigers trail their opposition in every stat category except for attempts, as TSU has a 1357 to 1184 advantage in attacks.

PANTHERS DOWNED TSU TWICE LAST SEASON
During the Panthers' less than ideal 2008 campaign, EIU actually defeated Tennessee State twice, first winning a five-game thriller at home before taking a four-set match in Nashville. EIU pretty much owns the all-time series over the Tigers, 21-3.

QUICK LOOK AT PEAY
Prior to playing at SEMO on Friday, Austin Peay is currently 7-4 overall and 1-0 in league action having downed TSU last weekend.

Leading all Lady Govs is senior outside hitter Stephanie Champine with 146 kills behind a .243 attack. Senior opposite Kirstin Distler actually has the squad's best attack with a .248 average and 91 kills, while second in digs with 124. Junior setter Sarah Alisaleh has 342 assists and eight aces, while defensively sophomore libero Paige Economos has 146 ups. At the net junior Jessica Mollman sports 28 blocks, including 25 assisted stops. 

Team-wise, APSU lead their opponents in kills (496 to 429), attack average (.199 to .136), aces (53 to 44), digs (688 to 663), but trail in total blocks (73 to 55). 

The EIU-APSU meeting on Saturday will mark the 28th meeting between the two rivals, and even though the Govs defeated the Panthers twice last season, EIU still holds a 16-11 advantage during NCAA Division I seasons.

ZWETTLER'S CAREER DOUBLE-DOUBLE TOTAL NOW 31
After two consecutive double-double performances this past weekend, junior outside hitter Alex Zwettler now has 31 career duo-duo performances under her belt. She had 16 kills and 18 digs in EIU's key sweep of defending OVC champ Tennessee Tech, while also registering a 14 kill/16 dig match in the Panther's four-set loss at Murray State. 

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