Box Score

CHICAGO -- Eastern Illinois volleyball lost a three-set road contest at instate foe Illinois-Chicago (25-19, 25-12, 25-17) on Wednesday (Oct. 3) evening, as the Panthers dropped to 3-14 on the season.

Junior Reynae Hutchinson led all Panthers as the outside hitter nailed six kills, while freshman right-side Abby Saalfrank chipped in in five put-a-ways.

Saalfrank also tied classmate Marah Bradbury and junior Stephanie Arnold with two aces and two blocks, respectively.  While Bradbury added 13 assists.

Sophomore Kelsey Brooke led EIU in back court defense with nine digs with Saalfrank adding four of her own.

For the match, the Panthers trailed the host Flames (9-10) in kills (44-to-25), attack (.312-to-.042), assists (42-to-14), digs (42-to-24), blocks (eight-to-three), and points (57.0-to-33.0).  Both squads fired off five aces, while Eastern also had five service errors to just three for UIC.

The match, which featured ten ties and six lead changes, was the 31st meeting between the two instate rivals, with the Flames snapping a four-match EIU win streak in the recent series.

Illinois-Chicago was led by the duo of Janise Dismuke and Nicole Allgood, with each firing off 13 kills, with Dismuke going errorless for a blistering .812 attack, the best attack by an individual opponent against the Panthers all season.  Maggie Strus paced the floor defense with 15 digs, while Sara Sternard 's four stuffs led all players at the net.

EIU will return to Charleston for key weekend Ohio Valley Conference home matches versus league-leader Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky this coming Friday (Oct. 5) and Saturday (Oct. 6), with first serves set for 7 and 2 p.m., respectively.

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