2013 EIU Volleyball Schedule | 2013 Panther Prospectus (PDF)

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eight home matches and four regional early-season tournaments highlight the 2013 Eastern Illinois volleyball schedule, as unveiled by head coach Kate Price today (June 25).

Panthers will face 24 total opponents during the squad's 29-match regular-season fall slate, including a trio of 2012 NCAA Tournament participants -- Belmont (OVC), Binghamton (America East) and San Diego State (Mountain West).

Eastern will begin the autumn campaign at the multi-squad Toledo Blue/Gold Invitational on the weekend of August 30-31. The Panthers are scheduled to play Loyola (Chicago), Toledo, West Virginia, and will also take on Marist for the first time ever.

Three additional preseason tourneys follow in the month of September, first at the Drake Tournament on Sept. 6-7 against DePaul, San Diego State and the host Bulldogs. Action continues at the UMKC Kangaroo Klassic on Sept. 13-14 versus Wake Forest, the host UMKC squad and another first-time opponent, Presbyterian.

The final non-conference weekend action will take place on Sept. 20-21 at the Kent State Golden Flashes Classic, as EIU will battle Illinois-Chicago, the host KSU unit, and face Binghamton on the volleyball court for the first time. The Binghamton squad is under the direction of former EIU assistant coach Glenn Kiriyama (1995-98).

EIU will open the Ohio Valley Conference portion of the schedule on the road, traveling to Southeast Missouri and UT Martin the weekend of Sept. 27-28.

The Panthers will finally open the home slate on Tues., Oct. 1 against instate rival SIU Edwardsville, before entertaining Tennessee State the following Friday evening.

A road swing to defending regular-season league champ Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky follows on Oct. 11-12, before EIU hosts Austin Peay and Murray State as part of the fall Homecoming festivities on Oct. 18-19.

After immediate road rematches against the Racers and Lady Govs, the Panthers will then enjoy a four-match homestand to open the month of November.

UT Martin and SEMO make the return trip to Charleston on Nov. 1-2, followed by respective Nov. 8-9 contests against Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech, with the home finale with the Golden Eagles designated as the senior recognition match.

Two additional road contests at SIU Edwardsville and defending OVC tourney champ Belmont on Nov. 12 and 16, respectively, finishes up the Panther regular-season before the annual league tournament gets underway at the No. 1 Seed on Nov. 21-23. The top eight squads in the east/west divisional standings will compete to decide which squad will represent the OVC in NCAA action.

EIU will once again compete in the West Division of the OVC this fall, joining Austin Peay, Murray State, Southeast Missouri, SIU Edwardsville and UT Martin. Meanwhile, the six East Division opponents include Belmont, Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Morehead State, Tennessee State, and Tennessee Tech.

Overall, the Panthers own an all-time NCAA DI record of 223-199 versus the 2013 opposition.

Eastern notched a 11-21 overall and an even 8-8 league mark to finish tied for sixth place in 2012 and are set to return 12 letterwinners -- seniors Stephanie Arnold (MH), Reynae Hutchinson (OH), & Amy Martin (MB) and juniors Kelsey Brooke (DS/OH), Katie Kirby (OH), Kelsey Roggemann (MB), & Dakota Springer (DS).

Sophomores Marah Bradbury (S), Chelsea Lee (OH/MB), Kayla Nesbitt (OH), Abby Saalfrank (S/OH), & Stephanie Wallace (L) return for another season and will be joined by incoming freshmen standouts Lexi Brown (OH) and Josie Winner (MH).

Last fall, a trio of Panthers earned post-season OVC accolades, led by local Mattoon native Reynae Hutchinson nabbing All-OVC kudos, while Abby Saalfrank garnered the prestigious OVC 'Freshman of the Year' award and also joined classmate Marah Bradbury on the All-Newcomer unit.

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