Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Eastern Illinois volleyball team picked up their first win of the season in the final day of competition at the Tiger Invitational. The Panthers defeated Jackson State in straight-sets by scores of 25-15, 25-18, and 25-16, and ended the tournament 1-2 overall.

The Panthers improve to 1-6 overall on the season and will look to make it two wins in a row as they head to in-state rival Western Illinois on Tuesday night.

Things got off to a shaky start as Jackson State took an early 4-0 lead. Taylor Smith put EIU on the board first with a kill and teamed up with Maggie Runge on a block on the next play to cut the lead in half. The block appeared to be the turning point in the set as the Panthers began to take control. After an Abby Knight kill gave the Panthers their first lead in the set at 8-7, EIU would not trail the rest of the set. With the score reading at 16-11 in favor of the Panthers, EIU would go on a 7-0 run to take a commanding 22-11 lead. Smith and Knight worked together to block a Jackson State attack to seal the first set victory 25-15.

Much like the first set, Jackson State took an early advantage to start the second set. Jackson State led 6-4, but the Panthers would score four of the next five points capped off by a Maria Brown kill to overtake the lead at 8-7. The score would remain close until the Panthers scored five-straight points towards the end of the set as Brown earned another kill to put the score at 24-16 in favor of EIU. Brown finished the set with another kill to give the Panthers a 2-0 advantage after taking the second game 25-18.

Eastern Illinois kept their foot on the gas as they raced out to a 6-1 lead to begin the third set as a Runge kill forced Jackson State to call a timeout. The Panthers would not break their stride as they extended their lead to nine points at 16-7 on another kill by Brown. EIU worked their lead to as many as 12 points at 24-12. Jackson State gave one final comeback effort scoring four-straight points, but Morgan Matusik ended the game on a kill and gave the Panthers a 25-16 win in the third set.

Smith earned her second triple-double of the tournament as she finished the match with 10 kills, 14 assists, and 10 digs. Not to be outdone, Brown earned her second double-double of the tournament with 11 kills and 10 digs. Runge was a force at the net for the Panthers as she finished with a match-high eight blocks.

Knight and Brown were named to the Tiger Invitational All-Tournament Team.