TOLEDO, Ohio - Eastern Illinois (6-7, 0-0 OVC) volleyball wins the second match at the Toledo Challenge against the Dukes from Duquesne (3-9, 0-0 A10) by a final score of 3-0.
Kaitlyn Flynn led all players with 17 kills and was second on the team with a .455 hitting percentage. The set scores were: 25-17, 25-17, 25-20.
Flynn and the Panthers offense was lethal at the net today hitting 43 kills and a team hitting percentage of .272 compared to Duquesne's 32 kills and a .149 percentage.
Ella Collins was huge for EIU's offense with nine kills on 19 attempts. Tori Moheskey and
Kate Dean both logged five kills apiece.
EIU got out to early leads in the first (8-2) and in the third set (10-4) to help give them their sixth victory of the season. The Panthers were able to secure multiple key points from behind the service line with
Sylvia Hasz collecting four aces along with 14 assists. Eastern had seven aces compared to the Dukes three.
The setter duo or Hasz and
Catalina Rochaix helped EIU to a season high .272 hitting percentage while assisting on 37 of 43 kills. Rochaix led the team in assists with 19 while also picking up five digs in the win.Â
Christina Martinez Mundo also provided a spark behind the service line with two aces of her own along with 11 digs on defense. She was not alone on the defensive side with
Ashley Sharkus picking up seven digs. Six different Panthers recorded at least three digs.
From the start EIU took advantage while not allowing a lead change or a tie throughout the entire match.
Annika Black and Dean also combined for two block assists each with Dean collecting a solo block against Duquesne.Â
The Dukes were led by Carsyn Henschen with nine kills at the net while Elizabeth Osborn also posted nine kills and four digs. Hailey Poling led all setters in them match while assisting on 27 of the teams 32 kills. Madison Grimm chipped in 12 digs for Duquesne. The team drops to 3-9 on the season before heading into conference play.
EIU will be back next weekend as they start Ohio Valley Conference play in Lantz Arena against the SIUE Cougars. The Panthers will play on Friday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. and on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 4 p.m. Livestats will be provided along with the match being streamed on ESPN+.
