Box Score (PDF)

MURRAY, Ky. -- A career-high kill tally by sophomore Reynae Hutchinson and double-digit kills by two additional Panthers wasn't enough as Eastern Illinois volleyball dropped a five-set Ohio Valley Conference match (21-25, 30-28, 25-20, 24-26, 10-15) at Murray State on Tuesday.

The Panthers fall to 9-19 overall and 6-11 in league as the loss marked the second straight five-set heartbreaker for EIU, following a five-frame defeat at EKU last Saturday.

With the loss, which came about on the final road match of the regular-season, Eastern's chance of earning a spot in the end-of-season, six-team OVC Tournament may be in jeopardy.

Hutchinson collected 27 kills on the night to top her previous career-high set as a freshman last season.  The local Mattoon native also finished with 14 digs to nab her 15th all-time kill-dig double-double, with 11 such performances earned this season alone

Also having a nice match offensively were Alison Berens and Emily Franklin as both juniors had a 15 and 17 kills on the night, respectively.  The 15 put-aways by Berens tied the middle hitter's career mark.

Senior setter Chrissie Albers dished out a season-best 61 assists, and with the addition of 12 digs notched her 19th such duo-duo performance in her EIU career.

Defensively, senior libero Brittany Wallace led all Panthers with 19 digs, while sophomore Stephanie Arnold had a fine game at the net with eight total blocks, which also tied her career mark.

Team-wise, EIU out-paced the Racers in kills (70 to 68), attacks (201 to 181), aces (four to two), blocks (12.0 to 9.5), and points (86.0 to 79.5).

The Racers were led by Cassy Woolverton's 23 kills and 22 digs from both Wendi Zickfield and Kayleah Sauer.

The over two-hour match featured 31 ties and 13 lead changes as sets two and four could have gone to either squad as both units had set-point opportunities.  Then an early fifth set lead by the host squad assisted Murray State in earning the crucial league victory on their home court.

Murray State (8-19/8-8 OVC) earned the season-sweep of the Panthers after winning a four-set affair in Charleston earlier this season, yet the Panthers still maintain a 19-17 all-time series advantage over the Racers.

EIU will now prepare for the squad's final three-match OVC homestand as Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State come to town for upcoming Friday and Saturday contests.  First serves are set for 7 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively, at Lantz Arena.

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