CHARLESTON, Ill – The Eastern Illinois volleyball team used a team total of 12 blocks to control the Skyhawk attack and improve to 5-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference after a 3-1 set victory marked by scores of 25-16, 25-18, 24-26, 25-19.

Playing in Lantz Arena for the first time in almost a month, the EIU volleyball team was determined to use their home court to their advantage. With EIU and UT Martin trading points to start off the first set, Marah Bradbury tied the set up at 11-11 following a service ace. From there, the Panthers would go on to score the next 10 points in the set to take a commanding 21-11 lead. The Skyhawks could not slow down the Panther attack however as a Josie Winner kill sealed the first set victory 25-16.

Like the first set, the two teams would keep the game close, until six straight errors from UT Martin broke the game open in Eastern Illinois' favor. UT Martin would trim the Panther lead down to four, but an Allie Hueston kill gave EIU a second set decision by the score of 25-18.

With a clean sweep in sets in sight for EIU, UT Martin played spoiler in the third set. Taylor Smith would tie the game at 5-5 with a kill of her own, but UT Martin would go on a pair of runs to take a 20-15 advantage. From there, EIU began to close the gap. A pair of Skyhawk errors brought the Panthers back to within three, and forced UT Martin to take a timeout. The teams would briefly trade points, and a Kayla Nesbitt kill would once again bring the Skyhawk lead to three at 23-20, and force UT Martin to take another timeout. A pair of Panther kills followed by an Anne Hughes ace, gave the Panthers a 24-23 lead. EIU could not find a way to earn the match point however, as UT Martin would steal the third set 26-24.

After dropping the third set, EIU was committed to finishing the Skyhawks in the fourth set, and a quick 14-10 lead in the early goings in the fourth set seemed to be just enough of a start for the Panthers. Smith would give EIU their biggest lead of the set at 20-13. Josie Winner would cap off the night with a kill as EIU finished the set by score of 25-19.

Smith and Bradbury finished with assist-dig double-double numbers for the Panthers. Smith would total 19 assists and 10 digs, as Bradbury led the way with 24 assists to her 13 digs. Winner, Lee, and Hueston all finished above .400 in hitting percentage. Winner also led the Panther net defense with one solo block plus five assisted blocks.

"(The) team played a solid match and it was nice to pick up our second win in a row, this one being back at home. Even in that third set I love the way we fought back and were so close to winning it. Our middles did a great job again both offensively and blocking. Marah Bradbury did a great job on defense and running our offense. Our serve and pass game was very consistent tonight" said Coach Wolinski after the game.

The Panthers do not get much time to celebrate the win however, as they will be tested again tomorrow afternoon (Oct. 17) as they host Southeast Missouri in another pivotal OVC contest at 2 p.m.