Box Score

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Eastern Illinois volleyball opened Drake Invitational action with a four-set victory over South Dakota State on Friday (Sep. 6).

After dropping a tight first frame, 25-23, the Panthers rallied to take the next three sets via scores of 25-18, 25-22, and 25-21 to move to 2-3 overall on the early season.

Four different Panthers secured double-digit kill numbers, led by sophomore outside hitter Chelsea Lee's 21 put-a-ways and .475 attack, both career highs.

Classmate Abby Saalfrank added 13 kills on the right side, while seniors Reynae Hutchinson and Stephanie Arnold chipped in 11 and 10 put-downs, respectively, via the outside and middle attack.

With the addition of 10 digs, Hutchinson secured her 26th career kill-dig duo-duo.

Hutchinson and Arnold also tallied three blocks apiece, while fellow senior Amy Martin led the net defense with four roofs.

Sophomore setter Marah Bradbury notched her 10th career assist-dig double-double, dishing out a season-high 52 assists while also tabbing a new career-best 17 digs.  She joined Hutchinson and Arnold with three blocks, while also tying Martin for team-best ace numbers off two nonreturnable serves.

Junior Dakota Springer, who earned her first career starting libero duties in sets two-thru-four, upped 17 Jackrabbit attacks to eclipse her previous all-time dig mark.

EIU out-paced SDSU in kills (62-to-49), attack (.298-to-.194), assists (56-to-41), aces (six-to-four), digs (63-to-47), and total points (76.0-to-61.0), while both squads tallied eight team blocks apiece.

Wagner Larson and Tiara Gibson led the way for the Jackrabbits (0-4) off 12 and 10 kills, respectively, and three blocks apiece.  Meanwhile, Lizzie Palmer led the SDSU backrow defense with 16 digs.

Team-wise, the match featured 23 ties and 14 lead changes as the Panthers and Jackrabbits met for the first time on the volleyball court.

The Panthers return to invitational action on Saturday, first taking on the host Bulldog squad at 1 p.m., before immediately battling instate foe DePaul at 5 p.m. to complete the weekend slate.
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... for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID