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EIU vs Cal State Fullerton l EIU vs Indiana State

Terra Haute, Ind. – Eastern Illinois volleyball team dominated the Indiana State Tournament finishing in first place Saturday morning and evening. The Panthers defeated Cal State Fullerton in a three-set match in their first game of the tournament 25-22, 25-22, and 25-17.  In the final game of the Indiana State Tournament EIU won a five-set match against Indiana State, winning by scores of 22-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-16, and 15-9.
 
Eastern Illinois finished tournament play with a record of 2-0 and a season record of 6-6 overall.
 
Game One: EIU 3, Cal State Fullerton 0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-17)
 
Eastern Illinois and Cal State Fullerton squared off in the Panthers first game to kick off the final day of the Indiana State Tournament.
 
Cal State Fullerton jumped out to a quick 12-0 run ignited by one of Jayla Norman's ten kills in the match. EIU wouldn't slow down though tying the Titans three times in the first set and taking the lead twice. The first set was all about a late Panther 3-0 run fueled by a Maggie Runge kill that would end up giving the Panthers a commanding 24-21 lead. Maria Brown would close out the set with one of her seven kills in the match.
 
The second set would be more of a challenge for the Panthers, as the Titans didn't let EIU jump out to any runs. The second set featured a total eight tie scores and four lead changes. Kills by Taylor Smith and Brown would be the offensive push the Panthers needed to steal the second set from the Titans.
 
The third set featured the biggest point differential in final scores of the match. The Panthers would hit for their best average in the match hitting .353 and were able to defeat the Titans 25-17. The third set featured the highest tie scores and lead changes of the match totaling eleven ties, and five lead changes. A Panther 6-0 run late in the set started from a Runge kill would give the Panthers a lead to help secure the victory. Help close out the set for the Panthers were an Allie Hueston and Laurel Bailey kill.

Leading EIU offensively was Hueston and Runge who both finished the match recording a team-high eight kills each. Smith recorded her fourth double-double of the season leading the Panthers in assists with 18 and finishing with eleven digs. The defensive leaders for the Panthers included Anne Hughes who recorded a team-high 14 digs and Brown recording a team-leading five blocks.

Game Two: EIU 3, Indiana State 2 (22-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-16, 15-9)

Eastern Illinois and Indiana State battled it out to close out the Indiana State Tournament. EIU was able to come back to defeat Indiana State winning a five-set match 22-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-16, and 15-9.
 
The Panthers and Sycamores started off the first set even trading points back and forth. The Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 run early in the set fueled by an Allie Hueston kill. However, the Sycamores were able to fire back with a 5-0 run led by a Cassie Kawa kill. The Sycamores would hold off the Panthers and take the first set 25-22.
 
The second set started off completely similar with both teams fighting keeping the score close exchanging leads for a match-high four times and tying each other thirteen times. The two teams started off the set jumping out to quick runs. The Panthers put together a 4-0 run started from a Maria Brown kill, but the Sycamores would answer immediately back with a 5-0 run kicked off from a Nikki White kill.  The Panthers would battle back with a couple of small runs that would ultimately let the Panthers take the set.
 
The third set kicked off with an offensive dominance by the Sycamores led by a Laura Gross kill, and a Sarah Peterson service ace to give the Sycamores a 3-0 lead. The Panthers didn't let up and fired back causing three ties and two lead changes. The Sycamores would take the set 25-21 with the help of tournament MVP Laura Gross who tallied five of her team-high 18 kills in the set.
 
EIU took complete control in a must-win fourth set defeating Indiana State 25-16. The Panthers totaled their best hitting average in the fourth set hitting .475. Brown was able to record her fourth double-double of the season finishing the set with seven of her thirteen kills and three of her twelve digs.
 
In the final set, EIU came out charging jumping out to a 4-0 run led by a Maggie Runge kill. Hueston led the Panthers offensively recording a team-high two kills and two blocks in the set to secure first place in the Indiana State Tournament for the Panthers.
 
EIU had the honor of three players earning All-Tournament-Team honors. Hueston led the Panthers with sixteen kills; Taylor Smith recorded her fifth double-double with a team-leading 23 assists and ten digs. Smith and Hueston both finished with a team-leading four blocks. Laurel Bailey led the Panthers defensively with her team-high 23 digs.
 
Hueston, Runge, and Smith all earned honors of being named to the Indiana State All-Tournament team. Allie Hueston closed out the tournament recording a total of 24 kills with a three kills-per-set average, a service ace, and six blocks. Runge finished the tournament with 18 kills with a 2.25 kills-per-set average, a service ace, and four blocks. Smith finished with 16 kills, 41 assists with a 5.12 assist-per-set average, two service aces, 21 digs, and five blocks.
 
EIU returns to action on September 22 where they will travel to Murray, Kentucky to open up conference play against Murray State.
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2017 Indiana State All-Tournament Team
Allie Hueston, Eastern Illinois 
Maggie Runge, Eastern Illinois
Taylor Smith, Eastern Illinois
Laura Gross, Indiana State - MVP
Rachel Griffin, Indiana State
Cassie Kawa, Indiana State
Savahna Costello, Cal State Fullerton