Box Score

MURRAY, Ky. -- Eastern Illinois volleyball defeated Ohio Valley Conference rival Murray State in a four-set affair (25-18, 17-25, 27-25, 25-17) on Saturday afternoon, as the Panthers set a new school mark for blocks.

EIU's 18 total blocks marks a new four-set single-match record, topping the previous high of 17 set by both the 1996 and 2004 Panther units versus Saint Louis and Murray State, respectively.

Junior Stephanie Arnold stuffed 11 total blocks to set a new career high in the process, while also adding her name to the EIU single-match record book with her 10 assisted roofs.  That tally ties for 7th in both overall Division I seasons and for the OVC era.

Reynae Hutchinson's seven total blocks also marked a new personal high for the junior outside hitter.

Senior middle hitter Alison Berens and freshman right-side attacker Abby Saalfrank paced the Panthers with 11 kills each, while Saalfrank finished with a .333 attack clip, as Berens added six blocks of her own.

Freshman setter Marah Bradbury dished out 37 assists as the Panthers out-hit the Racers (4-14/2-6) .139 to .087.  Bradbury also tied Hutchinson with a pair of aces.

In other defensive numbers, sophomore libero Kelsey Brooke led with 17 digs, while Hutchinson chipped in 12 ups.

Murray State was led by 11 and 10 kills by Taylor Olden and Alyssa Lelm, respectively, while Jodie Klein registered a game-high 18 digs.  Lelm also made her presence known at the net with seven assisted blocks.

Team-wise, the Panthers led the Racers in points (68.0-to-66.0) besides also dominating the blocking game.  The home squad, however, managed to earn the advantage in the remaining statistical categories.

Meeting for the 37th time, the two squads finished the match with 18 ties and eight, as the Panthers earned the first victory in Murray, Ky., since 2005.  The win also snapped a recent three-match win streak by the Racers, yet Eastern still holds onto a 20-17 all-time series lead.

After traveling to both Austin Peay and Murray State this weekend, the Panthers will immediately return home to host both the Racers and Lady Govs to begin the second half of the 2012 OVC slate on Friday (Oct. 19) and Saturday (Oct. 20), respectively.

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