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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio. – Eastern Illinois volleyball wrapped up its last in-season tournament of the year on Saturday afternoon winning its first match of the year in five sets against Robert Morris.
 
The Panthers are 1-11 after the final tournament of the season before conference play. EIU is back in action at home this Friday (Sept. 27) against Murray State at 6 p.m. at Lantz Arena.

The Panthers won 3-2 (16-25, 25-22, 11-25, 28-26, 15-13). 

In the first set, the panthers got out to a fast start but the Colonials came back with multiple runs that put them past the Panthers by nine points to take set one.

In the second set RMU was in control of the second set until the last five points. The Panthers were able to find their rhythm they have been looking for and scored the last five points to push them past RMU in the second set.


In the third set it was all Robert Morris from the very start as they take the set by 14 points. 
 
In the fourth set, they were going back and forth until 5-5 when RMU goes on a 5-0 run. The Panther counter with their own 6-0 run to take control of the set. This set was decided in extra points where Maggie Runge got the winning point to send the match to a fifth set.
 
In the fifth and final set, the Panthers come firing out of the gate with an 8-0 run to go up 9-2. The Colonials were able to bring it back within two points but the Panthers hang on for their first win of the season led by Laurel Bailey with six kills in the fifth set.


The Panthers were led by Laurel Bailey who had a double-double with 19 kills and 16 digs. Katie Sommer led the team in blocks with four.
 
The Colonials were led by Lauren Kolenik with 16 kills and 12 digs. Emma Granger was all over the net trying to stop the Panthers with 10 blocks.