• Eastern Illinois split their two road conference matches this past weekend at Southeast Missouri and UT Martin.

• EIU fell in straight-sets at SEMO, but rebounded nicely defeating UT Martin 3-1 the following day.

• Eastern Illinois will return to Lantz Arena to begin a four-match home stand this weekend.

• The Panthers will host Austin Peay on Friday night and Murray State on Saturday afternoon.

• Live stats will be available at eiupanthers.com. Both matches will be streamed live on the OVC Digital Network.
 
2016 vs Austin Peay & Murray State
... all times central
 
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7
EIU vs Austin Peay ... 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8
EIU vs Murray State ... 1:30 p.m.
.............................................................................

FOUR OF A KIND
• In the Panthers last match at UT Martin, four players -- Josie Winner, Taylor Smith, Allie Hueston, and Abby Knight -- all recorded double-digit kills.

• Brown led the team with 13 kills in the match. Smith and Hueston tied with 11 kills each. Knight rounded out the list adding 10 kills.

• Smith and Knight finished the match with a .588 hitting percentage. Hueston hit right at the .500 mark in the match.

• Smith picked up her seventh triple-double of the season as she added 31 assists and 11 digs to go along with her 11 kills.

PANTHERS RANKED IN OVC TOP 10
• The Eastern Illinois volleyball team has five members -- Gina Furlin, Maggie Runge, Hueston, Knight, and Smith -- currently ranked in the top 10 in the Ohio Valley Conference in multiple categories.

• Furlin has come on as one of the Panthers top serving threats in conference matches. She currently ranks fifth in the conference in aces-per-set at 0.46.

• Runge holds the second best blocks-per-set average overall at 1.25.

• Hueston has been one of the Panthers most consisten hitters in conference play as her .373 hitting percentage puts her in fourth. She also has been a force on the defensive end for the Panthers as her 1.36 blocks-per-set average is the third best mark.
 
• Like Hueston, Knight has played a factor on both ends of the court for Eastern Illinois. Her .345 hitting percentage in conference matches is the seventh best mark. In conferce only matches, Knight averages 1.29 blocks-per-set and puts her in fourth place. She averages 1.03 blocks-per-set overall and is the seventh best mark.

• Smith earned her seventh triple-double of the season in the Panthers last match at UT Martin and continues to lead the nation in the category. She also holds the seventh best aces-per-set average in conference only matches at 0.36.

• As a team, Eastern Illinois ranks among the top 10 in the OVC in several categories. The Panthers hold the second best blocks-per-set average at 2.43. The opposition for EIU is hitting at a mark of .201 which ranks as the eighth lowest in the conference. At 14.10 digs-per-set, Eastern Illinois holds the ninth best mark in the league. EIU averages 1.03 aces-per-set as a team which puts them in seventh in the conference.

• In conference only matches, EIU holds the third best mark in blocks-per-set (2.64). With an average of 1.43 aces-per-set, EIU ranks fourth in the category. EIU holds the seventh best hitting percentage (.188) and holds their opposition to the ninth lowest hitting percentage (.226).

QUOTING COACH WOLINSKI
Coach Wolinski on the Panther's upcoming matches against Austin Peay and Murray State-- "We are excited to start our two-week home stand by hosting Austin Peay and Murray.  Both teams are sitting at the top of the OVC so it will be some great volleyball this weekend in Lantz.  We are looking to keep our winning ways going after picking up our first win against UT Martin on Saturday."

SCOUTING THE GOVERNORS & RACERS
• EIU will face the likes of Austin Peay and Murray State in a pair of Ohio Valley Conference matches this weekend.

• The Governors enter the weekend sporting a record of 12-7 and 3-1 in OVC matches. EIU leads the all-time series between the two teams at 23-17. EIU swept both matches against APSU last season, winning in four sets both times.

• Ashley Slay is the player to watch for the Governors on the offensive end as she leads the APSU attack. Slay has totaled 175 kills this season and averages 2.87 kills-per-set. 

• Ginny Gerig will look to hold the Panthers offense in check as she is the team leader in digs for Austin Peay. Gerig has totaled 210 digs this season and averages 3.18 digs-per-set.

• The Racers enter the weeked with an overall record of 8-8 and 3-1 in OVC matches. Eastern Illinois holds a slight 24-20 advantage in the all-time series. Eastern Illinois and Murray State split their two matches last season. In the first match at Murray State, the Racers defeated the Panthers in straight sets. The Panthers returned the favor in their home portion of the home-and-home series as they picked up a five-set victory. 

• The Murray State offense will work through Scottie Ingram as she is the team leader in kills with 255. The two-time OVC Player of the Year averages 4.25 kills-per-set,.

• Ellie Lorenz will look to hold the Panthers offense in check as she is the team leader in digs for Murray State. Lorenz has totaled 281 digs this season and averages 4.68 digs-per-set.

UP NEXT FOR THE PANTHERS
• Following their two home matches this weekend against Austin Peay and Murray State, the Panthers will continue their four-match home stand with two more conferences matches next weekend against Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State.