Boxscore #1 (PDF) | Boxscore #2 (PDF) | Tourney Stats (PDF)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. --  Eastern Illinois volleyball finished Louisville Classic action on Saturday, dropping a thrilling five-set match to Ole Miss, after losing in three to the host Cardinal squad earlier in the day.

Despite dropping the finale (23-25, 25-18, 25-16, 22-25, 15-5), the Panthers (2-5) played some of the best volleyball of the season in the last match of the weekend.

Earlier in the day, EIU fell to the Cardinals in straight sets (25-12, 25-17, 25-15).

“Was nice to take an SEC team to five sets,“ said second year head coach Kate Price, “but we still need to be able to take care of business and finish out. We had a slow start and an up-and-down match at times. You can't get down and let a team get back into it. It was still great experience to compete against three good squads. It will definitely pay-off as the season goes on.”

Against Ole Miss (1-3) sophomore Reynae Hutchinson led the Panther attack with her first double-double of the season, and fourth in her career, off 14 kills and 14 digs.

Freshman Katie Kirby added 12 kills while junior Emily Franklin earned a spot on the Cardinal Classic All-Tournament Team with 11 kills and three blocks and an ace. The all-tourney honor is the first in Franklin's career.

Panthers won the first set by a close 25-23 score, but proceeded to fall in the next two before countering with a 25-22 fourth frame win. The Rebels took contol of the fifth set enroute to the win, however.

Junior Alison Berens led the EIU defense with eight blocks, eight of which were assisted. That mark is a new career high for the middle hitter.

In addition to the 14 digs by Hutchinson, senior libero Brittany Wallace finished with 18 ups. Senior setter Chrissie Albers dished out 41 assists behind the 48 total EIU kills.

Team-wise, EIU came up short in total attack (.191 to .084), blocks (17 to 10) and aces (six-to-four) to the Rebels. The Panthers did win the digging game with a 53-to-50 advantage and assists (46-to-43).

Against Louisville, Hutchinson again led all Panthers with six kills, whileKirby added five kills of her own.

Defensively, Franklin led with eight digs, while both Albers and Kelsey Roggemann recorded two blocks apiece. Roggemann hit .333 to lead the EIU attackers.

Panthers were out-hit .397 to .038 to the Cardinals (4-1), as Louisville was led by standout Lola Arslanbekova's 18 put-aways and .452 attack.

Next weekend EIU will travel to Bloomington, Indiana for the Indiana Classic, facing Niagara, Gonzaga and home Hoosier unit.

Final Louisville Classic Standings:
1. Louisville ... 3-0
2. Wichita State ... 2-1
3. Ole Miss ... 1-2
4. Eastern Illinois ... 0-3

All-Tournament Team:
Lola Arslanbekova (MVP) - LOU
Brooke Mattingly - LOU
Ashley Andrade - WSU
Sarah Waldorf - WSU
Regina Thomas - OM
Emily Franklin - EIU

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