Box Score MURRAY, Ky. – Eastern Illinois volleyball fell at Ohio Valley Conference leading Murray State on Saturday morning in four sets (22-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-12).
The tough loss drops the Panthers to 10-13 overall and 4-6 in league play while the Racers move to 18-4 and hold onto the top spot in the conference at 9-1. Â Murray State also earns the regular-season sweep of the Panthers after earning a four-set win in Charleston earlier this month.
Junior
Chelsea Lee was the lone EIU attacker to notch double-digit kills as she tallied 13 put-downs and added three blocks.
Freshmen
Maria Brown and
Allie Hueston chipped in respective nine and seven kill performances in the loss, as Brown upped 14 Racer attacks while Hueston set a new career-high block total with eight stuffs.
Junior
Stephanie Wallace led all players on the court in back row defense as she secured 20 digs, while senior
Kelsey Brooke added 12 of her own and led all Panthers behind the service line with a pair of aces.
EIU had a less than ideal attack in the contest as the Panthers were held to a .086 clip which marks the second worst tally this season. Â That included negative attack numbers in final two frames as the host Racers, meanwhile, hit .198 overall.
The Racers had three players nab double-digit kills, led by Taylor Olden's 15 put-downs, followed by 13 and 11 kills from Kristen Besselsen and Alyssa Lelm, respectively. Â Besselsen added 19 digs for a double-double.
Meeting for the 42nd time, the match featured 24 ties and six lead changes, and despite the loss, the Panthers still hold a 23-19 all-time series lead over the Racers.
Panthers return home to begin a four match home stand, starting with respective Friday and Saturday matchups versus Southeast Missouri and UT Martin this weekend.
... for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID
