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Eastern Illinois volleyball will report to fall camp in the coming weeks with the 2022 season opener set for Saturday, Aug. 20 with a home exhibition match against Missouri St. Louis.  Third year head coach Sara Thomas has added several new faces to the Panthers line-up as they get set to return to the court.
 
Set to join EIU this fall are setter Catalina Rochaix and middle blocker Kate Dean.
 
Rochaix (5'9") comes from Bell Ville, Argentina bringing a good deal of international experience with her to EIU.  Rochaix has been a setter for the Argentinian Junior Nationals playing in two volleyball World Cup Tournaments in Egypt and Holland during five years as a part of the Argentine National Team.   She attended Escuela Normal Superior Jose' Figueroa Alcorta while playing volleyball for Club Atletico y Biblioteca Bell.  Playing for her state team of Cordoba (similar to a state team in the US), Rochaix was named the MVP setter at the National Club Tournament and MVP setter at the Villa Ocampo Club Tournament.  She played in four provincial tournaments for the Cordoba national team and two binational tournaments representing the Cordoba Province.  Rochaix helped her club teams win four division championships and two provincial championships.  Her Club Bell team would place second at the national tournament. 
 
"Catalina brings a high level of playing experience to EIU.  She's been part of the Argentinian National Team program for serval years, getting the opportunity to play in two World Championships," said Thomas.  "Her leadership, winning mentality and coachability will help take our program to the next level."
 
Dean (6'3") is a local area standout that starred at nearby Tuscola High School while also playing club for Illini Elite 18 Cardinal.  As a senior she was named to the AVCA All-America list finishing her prep career with 712 kills, 175 blocks, 185 digs, 53 service aces and 13 assists.  Dean was twice named an Illinois honorable mention All-State selection, AVCA High School All-Region 6 team and the Champaign News-Gazette All-Area team selection.  Named the Tuscola HS team MVP and Offensive Award Recipient, she was a unanimous first team All-Central Illinois Conference selection during both the shortened COVID spring 2021 season and 2021 fall campaign.  At the club level Dean was named to the 2021 Ultra Ankle JVA Watchlist.  Individually she was named the MVP of the 18 Club Division at the 2020 St. Louis President's Classic.  She would help her club teams win the 2020 President's Day Classic 18 Club Division and 2021 Triple Crown NIT 17 Open Division.   She would help the team to a runner-up finish at the 2022 Triple Crown NIT 17 Open Division and third place finish at the 2022 Bluegrass in 18 Open. 
 
"Kate is joining us from Tuscola and is one of four freshmen all from the state of Illinois," said Thomas.  "Kate's incredible size and length brings depth to our middle position.  She's played at a high level in club preparing her for collegiate volleyball.  We are very excited to have the opportunity to coach Kate!"
 
EIU will be announcing its additional four incoming players over the next two Thursdays heading into the Panthers fall report date.