Saturday, August 17
EIU at Saint Louis…2 pm

EXHIBITION PLAY: Eastern Illinois volleyball will head to Saint Louis for an exhibition match against Saint Louis University Saturday, before they kick off their 2019 regular season.

NEW FACES: EIU adds six new members to their 2019 squad. Out of the six new players three are native to Illinois – Ireland Hieb, Sarah Paluch and Keelan Bell. Kristen Jankowski is from Chelsea, Mich., Joelle LaForce from Red Deer, Alberta and Mackenzie Duvall from Chesterfield, Mo.
 
PLAYERS TO LOOK FOR: Heading into her senior season Maggie Runge came off of a personal record season, with 185 kills and a team high 112 blocks. She had a season-high nine blocks against Saint Francis. She ranked second in the OVC for blocks.
 
Laurel Bailey is heading into her junior year she led the Panther offense with 311 kills on the season and a 2.91 kills-per-set. She also led the team in service aces with 25 on the year. On the defensive side of the court she claimed 325 digs and 36 blocks.
 
REGULAR SEASON OPENERS: Following exhibition play, the Panthers will open the 2019 season at home with the EIU Panther Invitational taking on South Dakota State, Memphis and Drake on Aug. 30-31. EIU will then travel to Central Michigan for the Chippewa Invitational to face Central Michigan, UIC and North Dakota State. The Panthers will open Ohio Valley Conference play at home on Sept. 27 vs. Murray State.

HEAD COACH: Julie Allen is heading into her second season as the Panther head coach. Last year she won her first collegiate match as a head coach on Aug. 24, with a 3-0 win over Saint Francis (Pa.). Her team posted a 10-21 record in first season as head coach with 5-11 record in Ohio Valley Conference.