Box Score (PDF)

RICHMOND, Ky. -- Despite having four players nail double-digit kills, the Eastern Illinois volleyball dropped a five-set heartbreaker at Ohio Valley Conference rival Eastern Kentucky on Saturday afternoon by scores of 20-25, 25-20, 15-25, 25-23, 15-10.

The loss moves the Panthers to 9-18 overall and 6-10 in league play.

Junior Emily Franklin led all players on the court with a career-high 24 kills off a .242 attack.

Sophomore Reynae Hutchinson tied her season-high kill total with 18 shots of her own and added 12 digs to notch her 11th double-double of the season and 14th in her Panther career.  The Mattoon native also accounting for all three of EIU's service aces.

Junior Alison Berens and sophomore Stephanie Arnold chipped in 11 and 10 kills as Arnold hit an impressive .526 with zero errors.

Arnold, Berens and senior setter Chrissie Albers each collected four blocks apiece, while senior libero Brittany Wallace led the floor defense with 24 digs.  The 56 assists by Albers also set a new season-high .

Team-wise, the Panthers once again dominated the Colonels in several stat categories, yet failed to pick up the win as EKU earned the season sweep of EIU after previously winning a four-set affair in Charleston earlier this year.

EIU topped EKU in total kills (66 to 53), attack (.216 to .164), assists (63 to 53), and points (78.0 to 72.0).  EKU (13-13/8-7) won the service game with an ace advantage of eight to three, while also finishing with one more dig (57 to 56) and two more blocks (11.0 to 9.0) than the Panthers.

Ashley Edmond and Hanna Burkle led the EKU offense with 17 and 14 kills, respectively, while libero Dena Ott recorded a team-high 22 digs, as the Colonels have now won the last nine meetings over the Panthers and tied the all-time Division I series between the two Eastern squads at 16-all.

The Panthers will have one final road match this coming Tuesday (Nov. 1), traveling to Murray State for a 7 p.m. mid-week OVC contest, prior to hosting three consecutive league matches to finish the regular-season.

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