CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Illinois volleyball continues early-season tournament action this weekend as the Panthers travel to the windy city to partake in the four-team DePaul Invitational on Sep. 4-5.

The weekend Panther schedule will be as follows -- Friday (Sep. 4) versus Evansville at 4:30 p.m., followed by Saturday (Sep. 5) play against Toledo at 10 a.m. and a 7 p.m. showdown versus the host Blue Demons.

Last weekend, Eastern Illinois volleyball opened the 2015 campaign by winning the IPFW Invitational, defeating UIC, 3-1, in the opening night of the tourney, then clawed back from a two-set deficit to down Central Michigan, 3-2, before sweeping the host Mastodons in straight sets for the team trophy.  Nesbitt (MVP), Hueston, and Bradbury each represented EIU on the All-Tournament team. 

This past Tuesday (Sep. 1) evening, EIU dropped their home opener against Indiana State in a four-set affair.

Live stats of each match this weekend will be available free via the DePaul website (DePaulBlueDemons.com), with links also available above, while Panther fans can also watch the live stream video of the match at DePaul (for a $9.95 access fee) via this link.

2015 DEPAUL INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE
... all times central
 
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
EIU vs. Evansville ... 4:30 p.m.
   Toledo at DePaul ... 7 p.m.
 
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
EIU vs. Toledo ... 10 a.m.
   Evansville at DePaul ... 12 p.m.
   Evansville vs. Toledo ... 3:30 p.m.
EIU at DePaul ... 7 p.m.

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PANTHER QUICK SET
• Last weekend's IPFW Invitational team trophy marks the first season-opening tourney title by a Panther squad since 1987 (4-1 mark at DePaul Invitational), while marking the 22nd time that EIU has earned a non-OVC regular-season tourney title during the current NCAA DI era.

• The comeback win against Central Michigan was the fifth time during the current rally-scoring era (2001-present) that the Panthers have dropped the first two sets, yet were able to claw back to take the final three frames in a thrilling win.  Since 1982, EIU has gutted out a total of 16 comeback wins in five sets.

• Kayla Nesbitt was named tourney MVP at the IPFW Invitational, which was the first such award in her career. She totaled 34 kills and hit .302 over the course of the three tourney matches.

• This weekend's DePaul Invite marks the second of four consecutive road early-season weekend tourneys for the Panthers, as Eastern is scheduled to play ten more non-conference matchups before opening up official Ohio Valley Conference play at home against Tennessee Tech (Sep. 25) and Jacksonville State (Sep. 26)

• The Panthers dropped their 2015 home-opener against I-70 Rival Indiana State last Tuesday night (Sep. 1), as EIU lost the match in a four set affair -- 25-19, 16-25, 25-17, 28-26.

QUOTING COACH WOLINSKI
"A 3-1 record is a great way to start the season.  As a team we must continue to stress 1% better in our systems of play and always practice and play with a no fear attitude.  

DePaul should be another good test for us this weekend.  In our first match versus Evansville we will see two teams that are similar in playing styles.  Saturday will be the same schedule as last weekend so being able to play consistently first thing in the morning will be key while coming back with a lot of energy for the last match versus host DePaul." 

LOOK AT NEW EIU CONTRIBUTIONS
• Three freshman Panthers saw their first collegiate action this past weekend at the IPFW Invite, as well as at home against Indiana State. 

• Anne Hughes, defensive specialist, played in all four matches for EIU, and started for the first time in her career against Indiana State. In her early career, she has tallied 35 digs (with a season-high 10 ups at IPFW), two aces and a kill.

• Classmate Taylor Smith saw a significant amount of playing time over the four game stretch as well, earning three starts. She's produced on both ends of the court with 25 digs, nine kills and four assists. 

• Defensively, fellow freshman Nicole Schladt has also earned some playing time in three of the first four matches for the Panthers. 

TRIO NABS ALL-TOURNEY HONORS
• Three Panther -- Marah Bradbury, Allie Hueston, and Nesbitt-- earned All-Tournament recognition at the IPFW Invitational this past weekend, with Nesbitt being named MVP.

• Bradbury, a senior setter, contributed to the Panther offense by setting up 128 assists in the three match tourney to sport a 10.67 assists-per-set average.

• Hueston, a sophomore middle-hitter, was a force both offensively and defensively, tallying 29 kills off a .383 hitting percentage, and led the net defense with 10 blocks.

• Nesbitt, a senior outside-hitter, tied fellow classmate Chelsea Lee for the team lead in put-downs at 34 apiece. She also posted a .302 hitting percentage, while chipping in eight digs and three blocks.

SCOUTING THE DEPAUL INVITATIONAL
• Series-wise, the Panthers are a combined 35-12 all-time against the weekend competition, which includes an impressive 20-6 record against tourney host DePaul, and a 14-2 mark against opening day opponent Evansville, while just 1-4 against invite finale opponent Toledo. 

• Much like the Panthers, Evansville comes into the 2015 season with five seniors listed on the lineup. Sophomore outside-hitter, Genesis Miranda is the player to watch for the Purple Aces as she leads the team in kills with 78 through four games. The Purple Aces have a 3-1 record on the season heading into Friday night's matchup with wins against two OVC foes -- Tennessee Tech (3-2) and Austin Peay (3-2).

• A young Toledo Rocket lineup looks to surprise opponents this season, listing only a pair of seniors and juniors on the roster. The Rockets come into the weekend invitational dropping their first three games of the year. Rachel Vidourek and Gracey Tuifua look to cause opposing offenses problems as they have posted nine and eight blocks respectively. 

• Tourney host DePaul returns three seniors and four juniors from their 2014 roster, and have posted a 2-1 record in the early stages of the season including a win over OVC opponent SIUE in three straight sets. DePaul has spread the wealth on the offensive end as four players have posted over 25 kills in their first three matches.

UP NEXT FOR THE PANTHERS
• Following the DePaul Invitational this weekend, the Panthers will again hit the road for another weekend invitational, this time at the Dayton Flyer Invitational on Sep. 11-12 in Ohio.  The Panthers are slated to face Cleveland State, Dayton, and Baylor over the course of the two-day event.