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Murray, KY. – Eastern Illinois volleyball traveled to Kentucky to open up conference play against OVC opponent Murray State Friday night. The Panthers lost to the Racers losing a four-set match (25-23, 20-25, 18-25, and 23-25)
 The first set would be all about runs, as a couple of late Panthers runs would fuel the comeback for EIU to take the first set 25-23 over Murray State. The turning point of the match was a Panther 5-0 run to give them a 24-22 lead kicked off by a
Maria Brown kill. EIU would secure the set with an attack error by Rachel Giustino.
Murray State would not be fazed by the first set and came out dominant in the second set hitting for a total average of .467. The racers were able to record two service aces from Becca Fernandez, and Megan Lindsay to help add offensive fuel for the Racers. Rachel Giustino led the Racers in kills for the match with 21.
The third set and would be an all-out attack by Murray State as they were able to hold the Panthers to their lowest score of the match winning 25-18. Leading a dominant attack for the racers in the third set was Guistino and Olivia Chatman who finished second for the Racers in kills for the match with 12.
EIU would battle back like they have done in previous matches this season coming back from a 7-1 but would just come up short falling in the fourth set by a score of 22-25.
Leading the Panthers in kills for the match was
Laurel Bailey who totaled 12 kills.
Taylor Smith would claim another double-double to add to her collection this season totaling 11 kills and a team-high 21 assists. Leading defensively for the Panthers was
Anne Hughes who collected ten digs, and
Allie Hueston who led in blocks with a team-high six.
The Panthers return to action Saturday where they will travel to Clarksville, Tennessee for a conference showdown against Austin Peay at 2 p.m.
