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Pre-Weekend Match Notes (PDF.)

 CHARLESTON, Ill. – After a brief return home to Lantz Arena to begin Ohio Valley Conference play this past weekend, the Panthers head back out on the road for two more OVC contests. EIU is scheduled to face off against SIU Edwardsville on Wednesday, September 30, at 6 p.m., and finishing the week at Belmont on Saturday, October 3, at 2 p.m.

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 30
    at  SIUE, 6 pm, Vadalabene Center, Edwardsville, Ill.

SATURDAY, OCT. 3
    at Belmont, 2 pm, Curb Event Center, Nashville, Tenn.

PERFECT WEEKEND
The Eastern Illinois University volleyball team returned back home to Lantz Arena for the first time in over a month this past weekend as they opened up Ohio Valley Conference play against Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State. The return home seemed to be just what the Panthers needed as they ended their eight game skid entering the weekend, and swept both matches in straight sets against TTU and JSU to begin their OVC schedule.

Before EIU's match against TTU on Friday night, senior outside-hitter -- Abby Saalfrank -- was honored as becoming the Panthers' newest member of the 1,000 kills club.

Eager to play in front of their home crowd, the Panthers came out firing on all cylinders to open the match against Tennessee Tech and continued their dominating play throughout the three set match, winning by scores of 25-14, 26-24, 25-15.

The momentum carried over into Saturday's contest against Jacksonville State. The Panthers would take control of the match early, and once again win in straight sets by scores of 25-15, 25-19, 25-19. Senior libero – Stephanie Wallace – became Eastern Illinois University's all-time career digs leader, as her fourth dig of the match that occurred in the second set totaled her record breaking, 1,667th dig to pass the previous record of 1,666 set by Erica Gerth (2001-2004). Wallace tallied 10 more digs after to up her career total to 1,677 digs.

HUESTON NAMED OVC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore middle-hitter, Allie Hueston was named as the Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week this past week. She led the Panther offense to a 2-0 start in their opening weekend of OVC play. She tallied 20 kills over the course of the two matches on just 39 attempts while hitting at an impressive .513 percent. She also added a service ace and six blocks to her weekend totals.

QUOTING COACH WOLINSKI
EIU volleyball coach was asked about last weekend's results, Wallace breaking the digs record, and to comment about this week's competition. Her responses were as followed…

"We were efficient in our style of volleyball.  We did a great job in our serve and pass game in both matches.  In addition, I thought we did a great job of running a balanced offense."

"It is a testament to her hard work on and off the court.  She wants to be the best at whatever she does.  She never wants to let a ball hit the floor so she is always going to find a way to get the job done."    
"Obviously we will take it one match at a time.  Our goal is to keep our level of play high and to keep being consistent in our style of play.  If we keep our level of play consistent we will be putting ourselves in a position
to win these two matches."

WALLACE NEW CAREER DIGS LEADER
Needing just 22 digs entering last weekend's contests, it took until the second set of the Jacksonville State game for Wallace to finally notch her 1,667th career dig, breaking the previous school record of 1,666 set by Erica Gerth (2001-2004). She ended the weekend with 32 total digs and has upped her career total to 1,677 digs.

"Being EIU's all-time career digs leader is a great honor and accomplishment, but at the end of the day, I couldn't reach this without my teammates, coaches, and family and friends the last four years. The ultimate goal is winning the OVC and hosting the tournament here at EIU, so that will continue to be our main focus." 
 
PANTHERS IN THE OVC
After a successful 2-0 weekend to begin OVC play, the EIU Panthers are ranked in the upper portions of the conference statistically in several different categories. As a team, the Panthers currently hold the top marks in hitting percentage (.311%), assists per set (15.33), kills per set (16.50), and digs per set (18.67). EIU is also ranked second in opponent hitting percentage (.135%) and blocks per set (2.17).

Multiple Panthers are ranked within the top-10 in the conference ranks individually. Marah Bradbury, currently sits in ninth place in assists per set with 7.50, and is tied for third in aces per set with 0.50. Maria Brown, holds the 10th best mark for digs per set with 3.67. Hueston, sees herself in a fourth place tie in terms of points per set averaging 4.75. She also has tallied 4.0 kills per set, which is good enough for fourth place honors, while hitting at .513 percent which is third best in the league. Abby Knight, led the Panther net-defense over the weekend, and her average of 1.00 blocks per set is tied for fifth best in the conference. Saalfrank, sees herself as the seventh best attacker in terms of hitting percentage with a .378 mark. She has also accumulated 3.33 kills per set, which gives her a tie for ninth. Wallace, averaging 5.33 digs per set, has nabbed a second place posting in the conference.

SCOUTING THE COUGARS AND BRUINS
The SIU Edwardsville Cougars split a pair of conference matches last week. The Cougars defeated Jacksonville State Sept. 25, in five sets, before dropping their five set contest to Tennessee Tech on Sept. 26. Kristen Torre leads SIUE's attack with 146 kills on the year. Ashley Witt supports Torre in the attacking game as she adds 115 kills of her own. Torre is at the head of the Cougar net-defense as well, as her 43 total blocks is a team-high mark, with Carley Ramich's 35 not too far behind.

Belmont won both of their OVC contests last weekend, taking down Eastern Kentucky in straight sets on Sept. 25, and sneaking out a close five set win against Morehead State on Sept. 26. The Bruins are led offensively by Arianna Person (186 kills) and Brie Lewis (141 kills). Person also leads the Bruins on the defensive side, as she has upped 163 opponent attacks, while Ellie Ivancich (146 digs) and Emily Richards (117 digs) have provided some defensive support of their own.

A LOOK AHEAD
Following this week's OVC games, EIU will be on the road again beginning with a much anticipated contest Oct. 9, at Murray State. Murry State was selected to finish atop of the conference in the preseason polls, and currently has a 12-1 record entering this week's schedule. The Panthers will travel to Austin Peay the following day, Oct. 10, for another OVC matchup.