Box Score

MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- Eastern Illinois volleyball completed Marquette Classic play on Saturday, falling in straight sets to #23-Michigan (25-13, 25-16, 25-20).

Panthers move to 3-6 on the season after meeting the Wolverines for the first time ever on the volleyball court, while also facing their first ranked opponent since EIU lost to #9-Washington in 2010.

Junior Reynae Hutchinson led the EIU offense with 10 kills and a .269 attack as her fine weekend play helped the outside hitter represent all Panthers on the All-Tournament squad.

Defensively, freshman libero Stephanie Wallace upped 10 attacks to pace the back row defense while senior Alison Berens led at the net with four blocks, including a pair of solo stuffs.

Michigan (9-1) was led by Jennifer Cross' 11 kills and impressive .667 attack, with Tiffany Morales leading with 10 digs.

EIU trailed the Wolverines in all stat categories, but held their own in blocks as UM held on for slight seven-to-five lead at the net.

Michigan jumped ahead 4-1 to start the first set but a solo stuff by Alison Berens helped EIU chip into the lead, yet a 9-4 Wolverine run forced EIU to burn timeout down 13-6.  A block by Ali Berens and Kelsey Roggemann would end the UM run, but the Wolverines would counter with another 8-5 spurt to extend lead to 21-11.  But EIU would fall, 25-13, in the first set following consecutive Panther miscues.  Eastern was out-hit .407 to zero in the set.

A pair of nice deep-court kills by Reynae Hutchinson and soft right-side attack by Abby Saalfrank would help the Panthers enjoy an early 5-2 lead over UM to start to the second frame.  Michigan countered to take lead at 9-8, but a kill down the line by Emily Franklin and a Kelsey Brooke ace would help retake the lead, 10-9.  Consecutive UM points followed sideout play by both squads as EIU used a timeout suddenly down 18-14.  A clutch back row put-down by Hutchinson would end the run and a kill thru the block by Franklin moved EIU to within 21-16 of UM, but the Wolverines would take the set, 25-16, thanks to consecutive Panther errors.

Consecutive Panther block assists helped EIU take an early 2-1 lead to open set three, while a kill off the MU block by Saalfrank knotted the score at 8-8 in early going.  A deep corner kill by Roggemann, followed by a cross-court shot by Hutchinson, gave EIU a 12-11 lead, but UM would counter with consecutive kills to retake the lead at 13-12.  Wolverines would push their lead to four before using the block to a 22-17 advantage over EIU.  Panthers would finish strong, but fall by a 25-20 set score.

Next weekend, Panthers will finish up the non-conference tournament portion of the schedule, traveling to Happy Valley to compete in the two-day Penn State Classic.

EIU will face Duquesne on Friday (Sep. 14) and both Portland and the second-ranked host Nittany Lions on Saturday (Sep. 15). 

Marquette Classic Final Standings
1 - Marquette ... 3-1
2 - Michigan ... 3-1
3 - Northern Iowa ... 2-1
4 - Eastern Illinois ... 1-2
5 - Wake Forest ... 0-4

Marquette Classic All-Tournament Team
MVP – Danielle Carlson, MH, Marquette
Julie Jeziorowski, L, Marquette
Elizabeth Koberstein, S, Marquette
Lexi Erwin, OH , Michigan
Molly Toon, OH, Michigan
Amy Braun, OH, UNI
Candice Burke, L, UNI
Reynae Hutchinson, OH, Eastern Illinois
Megan Miller, L, Wake Forest

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