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Butler 3 Eastern Illinois 1

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Eastern Illinois (0-1, 0-0 OVC) volleyball dropped their opening match against Butler University (1-0, 0-0 Big East) at the Butler Top Dawg Tournament in Hinkle Fieldhouse. EIU would go on to lose by a final score of 3-1 with the following set scores: 22-25, 25-22, 19-25, 19-25.

The Panthers were led by Giovana Larregui Lopez as she collected 16 kills in her first career match at EIU. She also collected 10 digs for her first double-double of the season. Ella Collins also collected her first double-double of the season after she posted 12 kills and 12 digs including six kills in the first set with an impressive .400 hitting percentage in set one.

Middle blocker Kate Dean got her first career start as she finished with two kills and two block assists. Tori Mohesky also started her EIU career with a strong match as she led the team in hitting percentage with a .227. She would finish the match with seven kills and two block assists.

Butler took advantage of Eastern's 36 attack errors while only hitting 21 of their own. EIU also trailed Butler in hitting percentage .046 to .115. The Bulldogs also were able to collect nine blocks on the day compared to the Panthers' three. 

The Bulldogs were led by their returning kills leader Mariah Grunze with 13 kills, seven digs and two block assists. Jenna Splitt also had 20 assists for BU while libero Jaymeson Kinley added 24 digs to help Butler take the match.

Christina Martinez Mundo was able to help the Panther defense by making multiple diving plays to save points. She would finish the match with 23 digs. EIU collected 69 digs compared to Butler's 65. 

The setter duo of Catalina Rochaix and Summerlyn Smith combined for 30 assists including 17 by Rochaix. Rochaix, freshman, previously played beach volleyball for the Panthers before making her indoor debut. She also collected 13 digs.

Eastern Illinois 3 Akron 0
The Panthers (1-1, 0-0 OVC) were able to bounce back during their second match on Friday at the Butler Top Dawg Tournament after defeating Akron (0-1, 0-0 MAC) 3-0. EIU was led by three Panthers with at least nine kills. The final set scores were as followed: 25-20, 27-25, 25-18.

Larregui Lopez continued her impressive debut as a Panther with 14 more kills which marked back-to-back double digit kill matches. She also collected another 13 digs which gave her another double-double for the tournament.

Collins also added another 10 kills to her total giving her her second double digit kill match of the season. Collins was second on the team in hitting percentage during their second match with a .308. Mohesky was able to grab nine kills on a .312 hitting percentage which led the team. In a heated second set, Mohesky was able to grab the set point to secure the set win.

Rochaix led the team in assists for the second straight match with 14 of them. Sylvia Hasz started her first career match at the setter position. She ended the match with 11 after making her debut vs. Butler during the previous match. Smith also added eight coming off the bench.

The Panthers defense was stout during their second match as the Zips only posted a .082 hitting percentage. EIU also forced 21 attacking errors while also blocking seven of their kill attempts. Elisavet Papageorgiou had herself a solid defensive game with five block assists along with five kills. Ireland Hieb also added two kills and six block assists.

Akron was led by Teagan Ochaya with 10 kills and six digs. Faith Johnson also added seven kills and 10 digs for the Zips while Anne Lesure added 13 assists. Akron will play Butler and Oakland tomorrow.

Eastern Illinois will be back tomorrow at 11 a.m. CT to play their last match of the Butler Top Dawg Tournament against Oakland. LiveStats will be made available.