Pre-Homestand Notes (PDF)

MUR at EIU ... Live Stats | Live Video | Match Program (PDF)
APSU at EIU ... Live Stats | Live Video | Match Program (PDF)
SLU at EIU ... Live Stats | Live Video | Match Program (PDF)

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Illinois volleyball returns to the friendly confines of Lantz Arena for a trio of home matches, hosting Ohio Valley Conference rivals Murray State and Austin Peay on Friday (Oct. 19) and Saturday (Oct. 20), respectively, before entertaining regional foe Saint Louis next Tuesday (Oct. 23).

The Panthers have won two of their last three contests to sit at 5-16 on the season and 2-6 in league play, including winning a recent four-set road match at Murray State last Saturday.

The Racers (4-14/2-6) and Lady Govs (12-12/5-3) just hosted the Panthers last weekend, as the second half of the league slate gets underway this weekend.

The Billikens of SLU, meanwhile are 7-14 overall prior to a pair of home matches this weekend.

THIS COMING WEEK'S SCHEDULE
... all times central

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19
• UTM at EKU ... 5 p.m. ... OVC Digital Network
• SEMO at MOR ... 6 p.m. ... OVC Digital Network
• MUR at EIU ... 7 p.m. ... OVC Digital Network
• APSU at SIUE ... 7 p.m. ... OVC Digital Network
• BEL at TTU ... 7 p.m. ... OVC Digital Network
• TSU at JSU ... 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20
• SEMO at EKU ... 1 p.m. ... OVC Digital Network
• UTM at MOR ... 1 p.m. ... OVC Digital Network
• APSU at EIU ... 2 p.m. ... OVC Digital Network
• MUR at SIUE ... 2 p.m. ... OVC Digital Network
• TSU at TTU ... 2 p.m. ... OVC Digital Network
• BEL at JSU ... 3 p.m.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23
• APSU at BEL ... 6 p.m. ... OVC Digital Network
EKU at Northern Kentucky ... 6 p.m.
Saint Louis at EIU ... 7 p.m. ... OVC Digital Network
SEMO at UMKC ... 7 p.m.

Panther fans can follow the action via live stats and live webcasts at Eastern's own website of www.EIUpanthers.com.

PANTHER PACK KIDS' CLUB DAY ON SATURDAY
Saturday afternoon's home match versus Austin Peay has been designated as Panther Pack Kids' Club Day at Lantz Arena, as members in attendance will be given the opportunity to participate in several in-game promotions.

Plus there will be a 30-minute activity session with the Panther volleyball squad immediately following the EIU/APSU match, which will also include an autograph session.

QUICK SET ON THE PANTHERS
• Freshman setter/right-side hitter Abby Saalfrank leads the Panthers with 189 kills (2.42 kps), while ranking second in points at 220.5 and total assists with 263 (3.37 aps). She has secured an impressive five triple-doubles this season, including a recent 15-kill, 15-assist and 11-dig performance against EKU the last time the Panthers played home.

• Junior outside hitter Reynae Hutchinson follows with 181 kills (2.35 kps) and owns the third best point tally with 215.0. She also leads all current Panthers with 20 career kill-dig duo-duo performances.

• Senior Alison Berens has chipped in 155 kills (1.99 kps) via the middle attack, and now leads EIU with 221.0 points and ranks second in aces via 23 unreturnable serves. She also paces the squad in net defense with 70 total blocks, including 16 solo stuffs.

• Freshman Marah Bradbury has taken over the primary setting duties in a 5-1 offense behind 474 assists (6.16 aps) and owns one of the best serves in the league with a team-high 28 aces.

• Defensively, sophomore Kelsey Brooke and freshman Stephanie Wallace are one-and-two in digs with 248 (3.18 dps) and 214 (2.97 dps) ups, respectively.

• In other net defensive numbers, junior Stephanie Arnold is the reigning OVC 'Defensive Player of the Week' following her outstanding blocking performance last week. She has 63 total stuffs (0.95 bps), which included a career-high 11 blocks in the four-set win at Murray State.

SCOUTING MURRAY STATE
• The Racers come to town looking to avenge last Saturday's four set loss to the Panthers in Murray, Ky. That road win was the first by an EIU squad since 2005.

• Newcomer Taylor Olden continues to paces the squad with 184 kills (2.83 kps), while classmate Emily Schmahl follows with 150 put-a-ways (2.68 kps) of her own.

• Senior middle Wendi Zickfield's .220 attack leads all Racers, while Alyssa Lelm has a team-best 70 blocks (1.08 bps), including 15 solo stuffs.

• Senior setter Lia Havili has dished out 484 assists (8.64 aps), while junior Katlyn Hudson not only paces the backrow defense with 217 digs (3.50 dps), but also ties Olden with a team-best 15 aces.

• With the recent win, EIU maintains a 20-17 all-time series lead over the Racers, despite having lost 11 of the last 13 matchups in the recent history. Eastern is 10-7 all-time versus Murray State at home.

SCOUTING AUSTIN PEAY
• Prior to playing at SIU Edwardsville on Friday, the Lady Govs are an even 12-12 overall and 5-3 in league play as APSU recently defeated both EIU and the Cougars at home last weekend.

• Sophomore Jada Stotts and senior Nikki Doyle both have over 300 kills to their credit via the outside attack, with Stotts leading with 307 (3.65 kps) and Doyle adding 301 (3.58 kps). Stotts also paces the defense with a team-high 256 digs (3.05 dps).

• Junior middle blocker Lauren Henderson sports the top full-time attack at .252 behind 164 kills, while also being a force at the net defensively with a team-best 59 blocks, including 15 solo shots. She also sports the squad's best serve with 35 aces (0.42 aps).

• Sophomore setter Cami Fields leads the offense with 876 assists (10.31 aps).

• APSU has won the last two meetings over EIU. The Panthers will look to avenge last year's three-set home loss to the Lady Govs as Eastern hosted a large group of former alumni to celebrate the 30th season of NCAA Division I volleyball.

• Despite now trailing APSU, 17-16, in the all-time series history, Eastern still enjoys a 9-6 lead when playing in Lantz Arena, however.

QUICK SET ON BILLIKENS
• Saint Louis are currently just 7-14 overall and 2-5 in Atlantic 10 action, prior to the Billikens entertaining league rivals Dayton and Xavier this weekend.

• EIU and SLU actually not met since 2003, as the Billikens currently enjoy an eight-match winning streak over the Panthers.

• Lauren Baumet and Carly Marcum have 182 and 166 kills, respectively, to lead SLU, while Cassie Clarke's .342 attack paces the Billiken offense.

• Anna Church owns the top serve with 21 aces and Marcum's 76 total blocks and Grace Bonoma's 343 digs lead SLU defensively.

LOOKING AHEAD
• Following this recent three-match home slate, the Panthers hit the road next weekend, traveling to fellow OVC west rivals UT Martin and Southeast Missouri on Friday (Oct. 26) and Saturday (Oct. 27), respectively. EIU will look to avenge earlier season losses at home to both the Skyhawks and Redhawks.

• The Panthers will then host their final non-conference opponent in Tuesday, Oct. 30 mid-weekend contest versus the Jaguars of IUPUI.

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