Boxscore (PDF)  | Tourney Stats (PDF)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Eastern Illinois volleyball gave Wichita State all they could handle but fell to the Shockers in a three-set affair on Friday afternoon (25-21, 25-21, 25-17) as the Panthers opened Louisville Classic action.

The loss drops Eastern to 2-3 on the early season as the Panthers are in the midst of their second early-season tourney of the year.

Freshman Katie Kirby nabbed her first career double-double off a 10 kill-dig match, leading all Panthers. The duo-duo marks the first by an EIU player in the early season. She finished with a .148 attack

Sophomore Reynae Hutchinson made a nice return to the court after missing last weekend's openers due to illness. The Mattoon native chipped in seven kills and five digs.

Junior Emily Franklin led all Panthers with 13 digs, setting a new career-high in the process. She finished with six addition kills.

Panthers were out-hit .276 to .094 for the game, but put the pressure on the Missouri Valley Conference power via 10 ties and six lead changes for the match.

Ashley Andrade and Camri Zwiesler nailed 13 and 12 kills to lead WSU as the Shockers improved to an even 2-2 on the season with the sweep.

Set one got off to a hot start for the Panthers as consecutive kills by Kirby forced WSU to burn a timeout as EIU led 6-3. Panthers eventually led 11-5 as the Shockers needed both their timeouts to try and counter the early EIU run. Shockers tied it up at 13-all as their middle attackers starting to get on-system. The MVC squad would eventually earn their first lead of the set at 21-20 and held on to hit past the Panthers, 25-21.

Set two EIU had an early lead again, but WSU countered and held on for another 25-21 victory. Final set was tight, but Shockers maintained lead and eventually pulled away for the 25-17 third set victory.

Panthers will continue Louisville Classic action on Saturday, taking on the host Cardinals at 10 a.m. (CST), followed by a 3:30 p.m. (CST) finale against Ole Miss.

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