Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Penn. -- Eastern Illinois volleyball finished up action at the two-day Penn State Classic on Saturday night, falling to the host and fourth-ranked Nittany Lions in straight sets (25-14, 25-14, 25-16).  EIU drops to 3-9 on the season.

Freshman right-side attacker and setter Abby Saalfrank led the EIU attack with eight kills and a .429 clip, she added nine assists.

Seniors Alison Berens and Emily Franklin each chipped in five kills.

Franklin also led the Panther defense with eight digs, while both Berens and sophomore Kelsey Roggemann, who earned her first career All-Tournament selection honor, added a pair of blocks, with both combining for a stuff and also earning solo roofs.

PSU was led by a trio of players with nine kills each, while Katie Slay led with zero errors and a .692 attack.  Megan Courtney led the defense with 12 blocks, while Micha Hancock not only dished out 36 assists but led with three blocks.

Both EIU skipper Kate Price and assistant coach Ryan Sweitzer made  their first appearance on the sidelines against their respecitve alma mater.  Price earned an NCAA Championship at PSU back in 2007, while Ryan Sweitzer was a member of the Nittany Lion men's squad that won that also won the national title in 2008.

The #4-PSU team marks the highest ranked opponent that the Panthers have played since the 2001 EIU squad also battled the fourth-seeded Arizona Wildcats in the first round of the NCAA Regional.  PSU is now 3-0 all-time versus the Panthers.

EIU will return home to prepare for Ohio Valley Conference and home openers against Southeast Missouri and UT Martin on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

Penn State Classic Results
1 - Penn State ... 3-0
2 - Duquesne ... 2-1
3 - Portland ... 1-2
4 - Eastern Illinois ... 0-3

All-Tournament Team
Kelsey Roggemann ... Eastern Illinois
Ariel Usher ... Portland
Patti Abshire ... Duquesne
Allison Foschia ... Duquesne
Megan Courtney ... Penn State
Lacey Fuller ... Penn State
Katie Slay (MVP) ... Penn State

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