CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Eastern Illinois (0-5, 0-4 OVC) lost their two hard fought matches on Saturday afternoon as they wrapped up their first Ohio Valley Conference beach volleyball weekend of their season. The Panthers lost 5-0 to current first-place Chattanooga and lost 4-1 to last season's defending regular season champions Morehead State.
EIU started Saturday morning against the current first place team in the OVC, Chattanooga. The Panthers battled tough in all five matches but lost 5-0 during their first career meeting between the two teams.
TaKenya Stafford and
Ashley Sharkus put up a fight in the No. 2 match with scores of 21-16 and 21-19.
Ella Collins and
Emily Wilcox battled back in forth in their first set in the No. 3 pairings but fell 21-16 and 21-8.
MATCH ONE RESULTS
1. Young, Baylee/Finch, Gylian (CHAT) def.
Elisavet Papageorgiou/
Christina Martinez Mundo (EIU) 21-14, 21-11
2. Clark, Neva/Gallentine, Paige (CHAT) def.
TaKenya Stafford/
Ashley Sharkus (EIU) 21-16, 21-19
3. Steger, Bailey/Frigaard, Grace (CHAT) def.
Ella Collins/
Emily Wilcox (EIU) 21-16, 21-8
4. Cerino, Victoria/Morris, Madi (CHAT) def.
Catalina Rochaix/
Ireland Hieb (EIU) 21-15, 21-11
5. Courthright, Joy/Gresham, Kaye (CHAT) def.
Kaitlyn Flynn/
Anna Moster (EIU) 21-8, 21-5
During the second and final match at the OVC Weekend, the Panthers' duo of Stafford and Sharkus picked up their first career victory in beach volleyball. During the No. 2 match, the duo won by scores of 21-14 and 21-18.
Catalina Rochaix and
Ireland Hieb managed to battle into a three set match in the No. 4 spot but fell short with final scores of 15-21, 21-18 and 5-15.
All five Panthers duos worked hard over their first career matches during an OVC Weekend, and look to bounce back during the second one later this season.
MATCH TWO RESULTS
1. Whitten, Allison/Lohmeier, Olivia (MSU) def.
Elisavet Papageorgiou/
Christina Martinez Mundo (EIU) 21-13, 21-13
2.
TaKenya Stafford/
Ashley Sharkus (EIU) def. Miller, Trinity/Reinhard, Anya (MSU) 21-16, 21-19
3. Williams, Bella/Montelisciani, Olivia (MSU) def.
Ella Collins/
Emily Wilcox (EIU) 21-14, 21-12
4. Hulsman, Abby/Musselman, Margaret (MSU) def.
Catalina Rochaix/
Ireland Hieb (EIU) 21-15, 18-21, 15-5
5. Wogenstahl, Irene/Alexander, Raegan (MSU) def.
Kaitlyn Flynn/
Anna Moster (EIU) 21-5, 21-10
The Panthers will be back in action next weekend starting Friday, April 1 as EIU heads to Eastern Kentucky to play in the EKU Tournament. Eastern will play four matches against North Alabama (twice), Eastern Kentucky, and Austin Peay. Updates will be made available throughout the matches.
