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Charleston, Ill. – Eastern Illinois volleyball played host to Southeast Missouri in an OVC conference matchup Friday night. The Panthers swept the Redhawks winning in three sets (25-19, 25-21, 25-17).
The Panthers showed aggressiveness early dominating the first set. The Panthers would dominate the Redhawks not allowing them to take the lead once.
Laurel Bailey,
Taylor Smith, and
Abby Knight led the Panthers offense with four kills each.
Madison Cunningham helped keep the Panthers defense in check claiming six of her team-high 15 digs.
The Second set featured a more balanced matchup as Southeast Missouri put pressure on the EIU defense pushing a match high 13 ties and eight lead changes. The Panthers were able to hold off the Redhawk offense and claim the second set by a score of 25-21.
The Panthers would hold off the Redhawks and claim the match winning the third set 25-17. The difference maker of the set was the Panthers 4-0 run ignited by an
Allie Hueston kill. The Panthers defense would catch fire in the third set totaling 12 blocks. Hueston and Smith would lead the Panther block party each totaling a team-high five blocks.
Smith was able to claim her tenth double-double of the season and eighth consecutive double-double match finishing with a team-high 12 kills and a team-high 19 assists. Bailey and Smith helped the Panthers offense with their team-leading three service aces each.
Gina Furlin also helped contribute to a dominant Panther offense with her 11 assists and was two digs shy of claiming her first double-double of the season.
The Panthers return to action Saturday afternoon when they will close out this weekend's conference play against UT Martin at 2 p.m.
