Box Score

MARTIN, Tenn. -- Late-set multi-point runs doomed Eastern Illinois volleyball as the Panthers fell in four sets (25-22, 25-22, 20-25, 25-22) at Ohio Valley Conference west division rival UT Martin on Friday (Oct. 26) evening.

Eastern was just a few points away from taking both the first and fourth frames, but late runs by the Skyhawks (9-16/5-6) helped the hosts earn the season sweep of the Panthers, as EIU previously feel in four to UTM earlier this season in Charleston.

Abby Saalfrank paced a trio of Panthers with double-digit kill totals, as the freshman finished with a team-high 15 put-downs and a .500 attack.  Junior Reynae Hutchinson and newcomer Kayla Nesbitt followed with 15 and 10 kills, respectively, as Nesbitt's one-error .529 clip topped the EIU offense.

Defensively, sophomore libero Kelsey Brooke continued her string of double-digit dig performances with 14 ups from the backrow, while Berens tallied a pair of blocks to lead the net defense.

Berens' three aces led all players on the court, while reigning OVC 'Setter of the Week' Marah Bradbury dished out 47 assists.

UTM also had three players with 10+ kills, led by Emily Keaton and Shelby Hoskins with 14 each, as Hoskins had just one error for a .591 attack and led her squad with five stuffs.  Taylor Simons chipping in ten kills as Kasey Elswick tallied 14 digs and Amanda Crask recorded 44 assists.

Team-wise, the Skyhawks led EIU in kills (59-to-53), attack (.325-to-.258), assists (55-to-52), blocks (eight-to-three), and points (71.0-to-61.0).  The Panthers did out-serve UTM with a five-to-four lead in aces, while both teams finished with 40 digs apiece.

Meeting for the 36th time, the match featured an incredible 42 ties and 15 lead changes, with UTM earning two set wins in the first and fourth frame, off late multi-point runs.  The Panthers did gut out a 25-20 third set win to extend the match.

Despite the Skyhawk win, the Panthers still maintain a sizeable 21-15 lead in the all-time NCAA Division I series history, yet UTM has now won two straight to earn the regular-season sweep.

Panthers continue the weekend road swing, traveling to Cape Girardeau, Mo., tomorrow afternoon for a 2 p.m. league battle at Southeast Missouri.  Earlier this evening, SEMO downed SIU Edwardsville in straight sets to improve to 17-9/9-2.

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