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Game One Box l Game Two Box

Des Moines, Iowa- The Eastern Illinois Volleyball team opened up the Drake Bulldogs Tournament Friday afternoon against Drake and UMass Lowell. The Panthers were able to split Friday's matches defeating UMass Lowell and falling to host Drake.
 
The Panthers now sit at 3-6 on the season.
 
GAME ONE: DRAKE 3, EIU 0
 
The Panthers were able to keep the Bulldogs on their heels throughout the first set. However, Drake was able to run out to a 6-0 run that helped secure the set midway through. Abby Knight led the Panthers offense with a set leading three kills, while Elle Tubbs led the Bulldogs with five of her team high 12 kills.
 
The second and third sets belonged to Drake, as they were able to get themselves into a rhythm to defeat the Panthers by scores of 25-19 and 25-14. Drake now improves to 7-0 on the season as they entered the tournament with the best record of the teams competing. Drake had a total of four players finish with double-digits in kills in the match. Knight and Taylor Smith led the Panther offense totaling nine and seven kills. Magie Runge and Katie Sommer both combined for a total of four blocks each on the defensive side of the court.
 
Gina Furlin finished with team-high 14 assists for the Panthers. Laurel Bailey finished with seven digs and three kills. Anne Hughes led the Panthers with 24 digs.
 
GAME TWO: EIU 3, UMass Lowell 0
 
The Panthers were able to shake off their opening match defeat against Drake, with a sweep of their own in their second match of the tournament.
 
UMass Lowell scored their most points in the match during the first set totaling 20 points. The Panthers clicked offensively in the first set to beat UMass Lowell 25-20. Bailey, Sommer, and Danielle Allen led the Panther offense in the first set with two kills each. UMass hit for their best percentage of the match in the second set hitting 56%.
 
The Panthers were able to generate a flowing offense in the second set defeating UMass 25-13. EIU totaled an attacking percentage of 71% in the second set. Once again the Panther offense was spread out with Morgan Matusik leading the charge with a set high three kills. Knight and Runge led the Panther defense in the second set with a block.
 
Similar to the second set the Panthers dominated the third set securing the match sweep. EIU did not allow a tie score or lead change throughout the final set, and hit for their best percentage at 84%. Bailey led the offensive dominance with a team-leading four kills, while Hannah Sieg led the Panthers on the defensive end with two blocks.
 
Bailey finished with eight kills, three digs, two aces, and a block. Runge finished with three blocks, three kills, an assist, and a dig.
 
The Panthers will return to action tomorrow (Sept. 8) when they will close out the Drake Bulldogs tournament against South Dakota State at 10 am.