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Pre-Weekend Match Notes (PDF.)

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Returning home to Lantz Arena for the first time in almost a month, the Eastern Illinois University volleyball team welcomed UT Martin and Southeast Missouri in a pair of Ohio Valley Conference contests. The Panthers protected their home court and upped their OVC record to 6-2 as they came away with a 3-1 victory against UT Martin on October 16, and followed that with a 3-2 come from behind win against Southeast Missouri on October 17. The Panthers will continue playing in front of their home crowd in Lantz Arena this weekend as they host Austin Peay on Friday, October 23, at 7 p.m., and Murray State on Saturday, October 24, at 6 p.m. as part of Homecoming Weekend at EIU. 


THIS WEEKEND'S SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, OCT. 23
    vs.  Austin Peay, 7 pm, Lantz Arena, Charleston, Ill. (Live Stats) / (Live Video)

SATURDAY, OCT. 24
    vs. Murray State, 6 pm, Lantz Arena, Charleston, Ill. (Live Stats) / (Live Video)

COMPLETE TEAM EFFORT
The Eastern Illinois University volleyball team saw themselves playing in Lantz Arena for only the fifth and sixth time to date this season. The Panthers faced the likes of UT Martin and Southeast Missouri. EIU made the most of their first couple games on their current four game home stand as they defeated UT Martin 3-1 on Friday night (Oct. 16), before earning a come from behind 3-2 win over Southeast Missouri the following afternoon (Oct. 17).

The Panthers currently stand at a tie for second place in the OVC with Belmont as both teams sport identical 6-2 records in the conference. Murray State remains as the lone undefeated team with a league best, 8-0 record.

Looking to remain in the upper echelon of the OVC, EIU knew they had to get the weekend started on the right foot with a win against UT Martin. The Panthers used a season-high 12 total blocks as a team to keep the Skyhawks attacking game in check. Taylor Smith (19 assists, 10 digs) and Marah Bradbury (24 assists, 13 digs) posted double-double totals to help lead Eastern Illinois to a 3-1 victory by scores of 25-16, 25-18, 26-24, 25-19.

The anticipation of a closely played is something to expect when EIU and SEMO square off against one another in volleyball. Four of the last five matches between the two teams entering Saturday's contest had gone into five sets. The match on Saturday continued the trend, as Eastern Illinois rallied from a 2-1 Redhawk advantage, to take the five set contest 3-2 (25-22, 24-26, 20-25, 25-17, 16-14). EIU once again used a team effort in the win, but this time on the offensive end as four Panthers – Maria Brown (12), Chelsea Lee (14), Allie Hueston (17), and Smith (16) – finished with double-digit kill marks. In the win, Smith notched her fourth triple-double of the season as she ended the game with 16 kills, 28 assists, and 22 digs.

SMITH EARNS OVC NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
Freshman (OH/S), Taylor Smith was named as the OVC Newcomer of the Week for this week following her double-double and triple-double performances. The honor is the first of such for Smith in her career. Earlier this season she was named to the Oakland Golden Grizzly Invitational All-Tournament team. Smith currently leads the OVC with four triple-doubles this season.  

QUOTING COACH WOLINSKI
"Last weekend was a crucial weekend for us finishing 2-0 to put us in (a tie for) second place in the conference while everyone is clumped together.  It will be tougher to face some of our same opponents again, but we also have the chance to play a few others we have not seen yet.  We are looking to finish the regular season in the top three for sure.   

Taylor continues to up her level of play every time she steps foot on the court.  Picking up her fourth triple-double of the season says a lot about her ability to excel in every facet of the game.  We need for her to keep bringing this level as we move forward through the rest of OVC competition and into the conference tournament. 

It will be tough facing them both (Austin Peay and Murray State) with such a quick turnaround.  Against APSU we need to control the serve and pass game again, and look to run our middles in transition.  We have rebounded well since our loss at Murray, and we will have a different look then when we played them two weeks again.  In addition, it is Homecoming weekend so a great crowd will really help us as well in both matches this weekend." 

PANTHERS IN THE OVC
With a current 6-2 record in the OVC, several Panthers remain ranked in the top 10 statistically in the conference. Hueston continues to keep with her impressive season, as she leads the OVC in hitting percentage in conference matches at a .445 percentage. Teammate, Josie Winner, joins Hueston in the top 10 hitting percentage category as her .324 hitting percentage ranks as the eighth best. Bradbury currently holds the ninth best assist per set average, with a 5.97 mark. Stephanie Wallace has continued to help the Panthers on the defensive side of the court as her 4.53 digs per set average gives the second best average in the OVC.

As a whole, the Panthers continue to rank themselves among the top 10 in the OVC during conference play. EIU currently leads the league in digs per set, as the Panthers are averaging 17.03 digs per set. Eastern Illinois has placed themselves with the second best totals for hitting percentage (.253), assists per set (12.77), and kills per set (13.73). Their next best ranking is the sixth best service aces per set average at 1.27. The Panthers are at a tie for the eighth blocks per set average at 1.67, and have the ninth best opponent hitting percentage at a .208 mark.

SCOUTING THE LADY GOVS & RACERS
With a 3-1 victory just two weeks prior against Austin Peay, EIU upped their all-time series record to a 22-17 advantage. Eastern Illinois is currently on a six game winning streak in the series.

APSU currently holds a 1-7 record in the OVC and will square off against the Panthers in Lantz Arena on Friday, October 23. The Lady Govs use a triple threat attacking scheme as Aubrey Marsellis, Ashley Slay, and Samantha Strother all have surpassed 50 kills in conference play. April Adams will look to keep the Panthers from scoring as she has dug out 115 opponent attacks.

Despite Murray State winning the first meeting between the Racers and Panthers 3-0 earlier this season, EIU still holds a 23-20 lead in the all-time series. Murray State currently rides a three game winning streak in the series.

With a league best 8-0 record in the OVC, EIU will look to knock Murray State off the undefeated charts if SIU Edwardsville is unsuccessful in their contest with the Racers the night before Murray State and Eastern Illinois matchup. The duo of Kristen Besselsen and Scottie Ingram lead the Racers on offense as both players are nearing the 100 kill mark in conference play.
 
A LOOK AHEAD
Following the completion of the current home stand for the Panthers this weekend, EIU will travel the next weekend to Southeast Missouri and UT Martin in a pair of OVC contests (Oct. 30-31).