Box Score

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Eastern Illinois volleyball nabbed a four-set road win over fellow Ohio Valley Conference rival Austin Peay (25-20, 25-27, 25-22, 25-19) on Saturday (Oct. 26) afternoon, to vault the Panthers into first place in the West Division standings.

For the second straight match, the Panthers had three different players nail double-digit kill numbers as EIU has now won four straight to improve to 13-10 overall and 7-3 in the league standings.

APSU, who previously paced the OVC West Division standings prior to the weekend, falls to 9-16 overall and 6-4 in conference action.

"We had a successful weekend on the road and had two nice team wins," said EIU head coach Kate Price.

Senior outside hitter Reynae Hutchinson delivered her 37th career double-double with a match-high 19 kills and 15 digs, finishing with 19.0 total points in the win.

Classmates Stephanie Arnold and Amy Martin each added 11 put-downs via the middle attack off respective .233 and .360 attack marks.

"I think our defense and passing has allowed our middles to be a big part of our offense," said Price.  "Stephanie and Amy have been very offensive.  They are doing a great job of finding ways to score and throwing themselves into the offense."

Arnold also connected on eight total blocks, including a pair of solo stuffs, while Martin added six roofs of her own.

Sophomore setter Marah Bradbury earned her fifth consecutive assist-dig double-double, as she dished out 54 assists while uppding 12 APSU attacks.  She now owns 17 career duo-duo performances.

"Marah had a really nice game today," Price said, "and did a great job of seeing the block."

Classmate Stephanie Wallace finished with a team-high 16 digs as the starting libero, while the junior defensive specialist tandem of Kelsey Brooke and Dakota Springer each tallied 10 digs.

Behind the service line, Brooke, Springer, Wallace and Martin all fired an ace as well.

Team-wise, EIU held the advantage over Peay in kills (61-to-49), attack (.197-to-.117), assists (60-to-44), blocks (13.5-to-11.0), and points (78.5-to-64.0).  APSU did finish with a slight lead in total digs (74-to-73), while both squads registered four aces.

The Lady Govs were led by Lauren Henderson's 15 kills, .364 attack and seven blocks, while Jada Stotts nabbed her own 13 kill, 18 dig double-double.

The victory gives the Panthers the all-important regular-season sweep of APSU, and now enjoy a 19-17 all-time series lead over the Lady Govs.

EIU's first place standings in the OVC West marks the first time that the Panthers have led their division since the league split into divisions last fall.  Eight squads automatically advance to the end-of-season conference tournament in late November, with the winner receiving the OVC's berth into the NCAA Regional.

"It's always great to be in the position we are in," Price added, "but the season isn't over yet and we need to finish out the season.

"We have done a great job of getting better each match and I hope we continue to grow as a team to maintain that success."

Eastern will return home next weekend to begin a season-long four-match homestand, as the Panthers are set for regular-season rematches versus UT Martin and Southeast Missouri on Friday (Nov. 1) and Saturday (Nov. 2), respectively.

Earlier this year EIU swept UTM, but fell in five sets to SEMO in respective road action.  Meanwhile, the Panthers are the lone OVC squad to hold an undefeated home record (4-0).

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