EIU vs. UC Davis l
EIU vs. Denver
Denver, Colo. – Eastern Illinois volleyball team faced tough competition to complete the Denver Pioneer Classic Saturday morning and evening. The Panthers defeated UC Davis in a three-set match in their second game of the tournament 25-18, 26-24, and 26-24. In the final game of the Pioneer Classic EIU dropped a three-set match to Denver, losing by scores of 21-25, 22-25, and 17-25.
Eastern Illinois finished tournament play with a record of 1-3 and 3-3 overall.
Game One: EIU 3, UC Davis 0Â Â (25-18, 26-24, 26-24)
Eastern Illinois and UC Davis squared off in the Panthers first game to kick off the final day of the Pioneer Classic.
Eastern Illinois jumped out to a quick 6-0 run ignited by one of
Allie Hueston's seven kills in the match. UC Davis wouldn't slow down though tying the Panthers five times in the first set. The first set was all about Panther runs as the Panthers took another 6-0 run in the middle of the set to give them the push they needed to secure the set.
The second set would be more of a challenge for the Panthers, as the Aggies didn't let EIU jump out to any runs. The Panthers would total for their best hitting average of the match totaling .244. Helping secure the victory for the final two points of the set was an
Allie Hueston kill that was followed by a ball handling error from Paloma Bowman of UC Davis.
The second and third set featured a close battled match-up where the Panthers and the Aggies had a total 28 ties and nine lead changes. EIU was able to pull out the victories in each set earning the sweep against UC Davis.
The third set was similar to the second in how both the Panthers and Aggies would continue to exchange points. The difference maker was the Panther comeback sparked by a
Laurel Bailey kill and her two service aces, which would lead the Panthers to a 4-0 run to win the match.
Leading EIU offensively was
Maria Brown finishing with a team leading ten kills.
Taylor Smith led the Panthers in assists with 19. The defensive leaders for the Panthers included
Anne Hughes with a team high 17 digs and
Allie Hueston with a team leading five blocks.
Game Two: Denver 3, EIU 0
Eastern Illinois and Denver battled it out to close out the Pioneer Classic. Denver was able to fend off the visiting Panthers winning a three-set match 21-25, 22-25, 17-25.
The Panthers came out fighting in the first set with a 4-0 run early to kick off the first set started by a
Taylor Smith kill. However, the Pioneers would answer back and be able to hold off the Panthers to take the first set 21-25.
The Second set featured a more balanced battle. EIU and Denver traded points back and forth throughout the whole set until Denver was able to squeeze by with the victory.
The third set featured the Pioneers hitting their second best average of the match hitting .281. Denver was able to hold the Panthers off to secure first place in the Pioneer Classic. With the win, the Pioneers improved to 3-0 in tournament play and 6-0 overall. With the loss, the Panthers fell to 1-3 in tournament play and 3-3 overall.
The Pioneers attacking average didn't drop below .250 for all three sets. The Pioneers totaled their best hitting average in the first set hitting .316. Tournament MVP Becca Latham helped give the Pioneers the offensive push they needed to hold off the Panthers totaling a team leading eleven kills.
Laurel Bailey led the Panthers with ten kills; Taylor smith recorded a double-double with a team leading thirteen assists and eleven digs.
Allie Hueston and
Maggie Runge both finished with a team leading three blocks.
EIU returns to action on September 8-9 where they will host the Panther Classic. Visiting the Panthers for the Panther Classic are Alabama A&M, Chicago State, and Western Illinois. The Panthers will open up the tournament against Alabama A&M September 8 at 12 p.m.
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2017 Pioneer Classic All-Tournament Team
Becca Latham, University of Denver - MVP
Tina Boe, University of Denver
Piyusha Boteju, University of Denver
Rylee Hunt, Niagara
Nicole Matheis, Niagara
Taylor Smith, Eastern Illinois
Emily Allen, UC Davis
