DAYTON, OHIO – Heading into their third consecutive weekend tournament to start the season, the Panthers were eager to avenge their runner-up finish last weekend at the DePaul Invitational while facing their toughest competition of the year thus far at the Dayton Flyer Invitational. The Eastern Illinois began their weekend at the Dayton Flyer Invitational dropping their first round game 3-2 against Cleveland State (23-25,25-18,21-25,27-25,10-15).
The action started early in the first set with neither team able to gain a sizeable edge as the game would become tied on 14 different occasions before the Vikings took a 18-21 advantage over the Panthers. The Panthers battled from behind, and a pair of kills from
Chelsea Lee gave the Panthers a one-point lead 23-22. The Vikings used a couple Panther miscues to their advantage, as the Panthers dropped set one 23-25.
Abby Saalfrank and Lee gave the Panthers the spark they were looking for at the beginning of the second set. The duo teamed up and accounted for the first five points of the match, as the Panthers lead 5-0 early on. The Panthers saw their lead increase to as many as eight, and would not let the Vikings back into the set, taking the game by a 25-18 decision.
The seesaw action once again returned in the third set as both teams saw their leads come and go throughout the game.
Maria Brown put the Panthers ahead with a kill marking the score at 11-9, but that was the last time EIU would lead in the set as the Vikings rallied back to earn the third set 25-21.
The Panthers were in unfamiliar territory heading into set four against the Vikings. The Panthers were facing defeat for the first time in an opening round game of a tournament this season. The Panthers won their two previous tournament openers, 3-1 against UIC at the IPFW Invitational and 3-0 versus Evansville last weekend at the DePaul Invitational. A pair of kills by
Josie Winner brought the score to 15-10 as the door appeared to be open to force a fifth set. The Vikings fought their way back into the set, but a kill by
Marah Bradbury and a pair of CSU errors sealed up the game four victory 27-25 for the Panthers.
The Panthers were unable to get into any rhythm against the Viking attack in the fifth set as the Vikings took the first three points in the game and never trailed from there. A kill by
Taylor Smith brought the Panthers to within two, but that would be as close as EIU would get as the Vikings won the fifth set 15-10, and the match 3-2 over the Panthers.
Lee and Brown paced the Panther offense with 19 and 16 kills respectively combined with 63 assists from Bradbury.
Stephanie Wallace helped the Panther defense digging out 26 Viking attacks.
The Panthers continue their play at the Dayton Invitational tomorrow morning (Sept. 12) at 11:30 a.m. facing host Dayton, while finishing up tournament play at 2 p.m. versus Baylor.
