Box Score
Photo Gallery (Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Illinois volleyball dropped their second consecutive four-set match to open Ohio Valley Conference action this weekend, as visiting UT Martin out-lasted the Panthers (20-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-21) on Saturday afternoon.

With the loss, EIU falls to 3-11 overall and 0-2 in OVC play.

Freshman Abby Saalfrank nabbed her fourth career triple-double as the right-side attacker/setter tallied 16 kills, 16 assists and 10 digs, as well as adding an ace to pace all players with 17.0 points.

Junior outside hitter Reynae Hutchinson chipped in 13 kills behind a team-best .303 attack clip, while also adding two blocks.

Senior Alison Berens finished with nine kills in the middle attack, while leading the net defense with three blocks and tying sophomore Kelsey Brooke with two aces.

Freshman setter Marah Bradbury dished out a game-high 34 assists as EIU actually out-hit the Skyhawks (5-10/1-1), .177 to .170.

In other defensive numbers, Brooke paced the EIU back row with 22 digs as the starting libero, with senior Emily Franklin upping a career-high 20 UTM attacks as well.

Just like last evening versus SEMO, the Panthers actually led UTM in a variety of other stat categories, just didn't earn the victory.

Besides leading in the attack, EIU also topped the Skyhawks in total kills (57-to-45), assists (51-to-41), digs (83-to-73), and points (67.0-to-66.0).  UTM did out-pace Eastern in aces (10-to-six) and dominated the net defense for a 11.0-to-four advantage in the blocking game.

UTM was led by Lynsey Hazelwood's 12 kill and 10 dig double-double, while Emily Keatan added 11 kills and Kasey Elswick nabbed 27 digs to lead all players on the court.  Shelby Hoskins was a force at the net with eight stuffs.

Playing for the 35th time during the Division I era, EIU still maintains a 21-14 all-time series advantage.

EIU came out with energy in the first set and after an early tie took control for the 25-20 win as EIU out-hit the visitors, .256-to-.056.

The Panthers enjoyed a 21-13 lead in the second frame, but UTM countered with a 12-1 run to burn the Panthers for the 25-22 victory and knot the match at one set apiece.  That set featured 12 ties and three lead changes.

The third set had seven ties and three changes of lead as UTM held on for the 25-20 win, then enjoyed an early fourth set lead en route to the 25-21 victory, although the Panthers did counter with a couple of multi-point runs, but could never overtake the Skyhawks.

 EIU will continue league play as the Panthers travel to instate rival SIU Edwardsville for a mid-week match this coming Tuesday (Sep. 25), with first serve set for 7 p.m.

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