Box Score (PDF) | Photo Gallery (Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Illinois lost to Austin Peay in straight sets (27-25, 25-16, 25-17) on Saturday night in Ohio Valley Conference play, spoiling the Panthers' 30th NCAA Division I Celebration & Homecoming Weekend festivities.  The loss also snapped a four-match winning streak as EIU fell to 8-16 and 5-8 in the league.

Junior Emily Franklin led all Panthers with 11 kills, while sophomore Reynae Hutchinson and junior Alison Berens chipped in eight and seven kills, respectively.

Unfortunately the Panther attack didn't match the same prowess as the night before in a sweep of Tennessee State, as EIU hit just .060 on the night versus Peay.

Defensively, senior libero Brittany Wallace led with 18 digs, with Hutchinson adding 15 of her own.  Sophomore Stephanie Arnold notched three blocks to lead the EIU net defense.

APSU (7-17/5-8 OVC) led the Panthers in every stat category, including kills (38 to 36), attack (.209 to .060), assists (36 to 35), aces (seven to three), blocks (eight to five) and total points (53.0 to 44.0).  The three-set sweep by the Lady Govs also avenged an earlier season loss to EIU down in Clarksville, Tenn.

The match featured 12 ties and six lead changes, most coming via the tight first set as both squads played nearly point-for-point before the Lady Govs led 20-17, but the Panthers countered to cut the lead at 23-22, forcing an APSU timeout.  At that point APSU served for set-point two more times before finally getting the opening win via an ace.

Set two started off tight, but a five-point APSU run would give the visitors the lead at 9-4.  EIU would pull to within 12-9, but the Govs would continue to enjoy a six-point advantage en route to the 25-16 second set victory off a solo block.

The final frame once again started close, but the Lady Govs once again took the lead at 10-5. But the Panthers would counter to knot the score at 13-all, forcing a timeout by Peay.  At that point, however, the visitors would go on a 12-4 run, aided by several unforced Panther errors, to earn the sweep.

Peay was led by 11 kills via Illyanna Hernandez, while Paige Economos had 21 digs to lead all players on the court.

One highlight of the night was the recognition of over 40 returning former Panther standouts to help the program celebrate the 30th season as a DI squad.  That included honoring four conference championship squads.

Also, senior libero Brittany Wallace was recognized as the inaugural recipient of the newly announced Volleyball Alumni Scholarship, as former long-time skipper Betty Ralston (1983-98) has set-up a new scholarship to go to an upperclassman with a 3.50 or higher GPA, who also possess excellent leadership and work ethic both in the classroom and on the court.

EIU will return to action this coming Tuesday evening, traveling to OVC-newcomer SIU Edwardsville for a 6 p.m. match.  Earlier in the year the Panthers earned a hard-fought five-set thriller over the Cougars, coming back from two-sets down to nip SIUE.

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