Box Score

CHARLESTON, Ill. – In a rematch from a meeting just one week ago, Eastern Illinois and Louisiana Tech met up in the final game of the EIU Panther Classic. The Panthers looked to avenge a loss from a week ago, but it was Louisiana Tech who defeated the Panthers in five sets as EIU fell by scores of 18-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-23, and 2-15.

Eastern Illinois drops to 2-9 on the season with the loss to LA Tech.

Taylor Smith was named to the EIU Panther Classic All-Tournament Team for the Panthers.

The Panthers had no answer for LA Tech in the first set, as the visitors raced out to a 7-1 lead to begin the set and force EIU into a timeout. Eastern Illinois closed the gap to just four points at 11-7 on a Hayley Richardson service ace. That would be as close as the Panthers would get however as LA Tech built onto their lead and won the first set 25-18.

The second set played closer compared to the first. Abby Knight and Josie Winner combined on a block to tie the score at 5-5. LA Tech tried to pull away midway through the second set, but a kill by Katie Sommer pulled EIU within two at 16-14. LA Tech began to gain momentum towards the end of the set and extended their lead to six points at 23-17. Smith tried to start an EIU comeback with a kill, but LA Tech would take the set at 25-19 on a Marta Monne kill.

The third set started out neck-and-neck between the two teams ans neither team would gain a lead of more than two points. LA Tech would tie the score at 9-9, but Maggie Runge would give the Panthers the lead on the next play as she would find a hole in the LA Tech defense for a kill. The Panthers would not look back from there. LA Tech managed to tie the set once more at 15-15, but EIU would lead the rest of the way and pick up a 25-21, third set victory.

The script played out nearly the same way in the fourth set as it did in the third set except it was the Panthers tying the score at 9-9 on a Lindsey Powers ace, and LA Tech gaining the lead on the next play. Smith quickly tied the score at 10-10 and the Panthers began to take control in the set. LA Tech would tie the score twice at 14-14 and 21-21. It appeared as if LA Tech would win the match in the fourth set as they took a 23-21 lead, but EIU would call a timeout break the LA Tech rhythm. The timeout worked in favor of EIU as the Panthers would score the next two points to tie the set at 23-23. Knight and Sommer connected on a block to give EIU a one-point lead. Knight finished off the set on the next play with a kill as the Panthers forced a fifth set after winning the fourth game 25-23.

The fifth set was all LA Tech as they would score the first eight points in the set before a service error made the score 8-1. The Panthers took advantage of another LA Tech error as the score read 10-2 in favor of the visiting team. LA Tech would score five-straight points to take the deciding fifth set 15-2.

Smith added another triple-double to her resume as she finished with 14 kills, 16 assists, and 11 digs. Gina Furlin picked up her first career double-double with 21 assists and 10 digs. Brown also posted double-double numbers for EIU with 12 kill and 14 digs.

In the first game of the afternoon session at the EIU Panther Classic, Bowling Green defeated Drake 3-1. Jelena Sunjic posted 17 kills to lead BGSU, with Makena Schoene earning nine kills to lead Drake.

Bowling Green earned the tournament championship, as the finished with a perfect 3-0 record. Drake at 2-1 earned second place honors. LA Tech (1-2) came in third place, with EIU (0-3) rounding out the tournament field.

EIU Panther Classic All-Tournament Team
Jelena Sunjic – BGSU (MVP)
Madeline Garda – BGSU
Alyssa Maloney – BGSU
Makena Schoene – DU
Kameo Pope – DU
Alejandra Aviles – LA Tech
Taylor Smith – EIU