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CHARLESTON, Ill.– After six losses in a row the Panthers get their first win in OVC play against Tennessee Tech and move to 1-6 in the OVC. The Panthers won in five sets (39-37, 22-25, 25-22, 16-25, 15-11).
 
The Golden Eagles got off to a good start leading by ten points at one point. The Panthers fought back hard and tied the set up at 18-18. It was tight all the way through the rest of the set. The Panthers prevailed in the end winning the first set in extra points 39-37. In the first set was tied 21 times and it had 11 lead changes.
 
In the second set EIU jumped out to an early lead but the Golden Eagles fought back to tie it up at 7-7. Tennessee Tech went on a couple of runs to take control of the set until Ireland Hieb had a pair of kills to bring the Panthers back in it. The Golden Eagles take set two by three points.  

The Panthers hopped out to an early lead and never let that go. EIU never lost the lead in the third set and was led by Kylie Michael throughout the set. TTU brought it back within two points but the Panthers won two of the last three points to take set three.

In the fourth set it was all Golden Eagles from the start. The Panthers tried to rally back but could never get their footing back and lost the set by nine points.
It all came down the fifth set and the Panthers couldn't have gotten a better start. EIU jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the set. The Golden Eagles fought back to bring set within three points but the Panthers earn two of the last three points to win their first OVC match of the year.
 
The Panthers had four players in double figures tonight. Maggie Runge led the team in kills with 17, Kylie Michael and Ireland Hieb added 13 while Katie Sommer had 11. Bailey Chandler led the team in assist with 52 and added four kills. Kylie Michael ended the match with her first double-double of the year, she had 13 kills and ten digs.

The Panthers are back in action Saturday (Oct. 18) at home in Lantz Arena to take on Jacksonville State at 2 p.m.