Box Score

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Eastern Illinois volleyball fell in straight sets at Ohio Valley Conference foe Austin Peay (25-23, 25-19, 25-22) on Friday night, dropping the Panthers to 4-16 overall and 1-6 in league play.

Junior Reynae Hutchinson led EIU with nine kills, while senior Alison Berens and freshman Kayla Nesbitt each chipped in six put-a-ways.

Stephanie Arnold paced the Panther attack with a team-best .444 behind five kills, while the junior also made her presence known at the net as she led all players on the court with five blocks.

Freshman setter Marah Bradbury dished out 25 assists as sophomore Kelsey Brooke upped 14 APSU attacks to lead the EIU back court defense.

Newcomer Abby Saalfrank recorded the lone Eastern ace and tied Berens with four stuffs apiece.

Team-wise, the Panthers led the Lady Govs (11-12/4-3) in blocks via an 11.0-to-6.0 advantage.  APSU out-paced EIU in the remaining stat categories, however, including kills (45-to-34), attack (.200-to-.161), assists (43-to-32), aces (five-to-one), digs (55-to-46), and points (56.0-to-46.0).

The host Lady Govs were led by Alex Sain's 11-kill and 10-dig double-double and .476 attack, while Nikki Doyle also registered 11 put-downs.  Defensively, APSU was led by Lauren Henderson's three blocks and Jada Stotts' 14 digs.

Meeting for the 33rd time, the two squads battled through nine ties and four lead changes as the Panthers actually enjoyed the lead through most of both the first and third sets yet the Lady Govs would counter with late runs to claw past the Panthers for respective 25-23 and 25-22 wins.

In the middle set, meanwhile, the host team would take an early advantage before riding out the 25-19 win.

Panthers, who have now unfortunately lost 11 of their last 12 matches, will next travel to Murray, Ky., to face the Racers of Murray State at noon tomorrow afternoon (Sat., Oct. 13).

Then next weekend, EIU will turn around and have rematches against both APSU and MUR as the Panthers will host the Lady Govs and Racers to start the second half of the 2012 OVC slate.

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