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CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Eastern Illinois volleyball team (25-4, 15-3 OVC) celebrated Senior Day with an exciting comeback win in Lantz Arena, as they overcame Western Illinois 3-2 (25-18, 23-25, 21-25, 25-19, 15-10) on Thursday. Five EIU seniors were recognized before the match for their commitment and contributions to the Panthers volleyball program. Since the first of them arrived on campus in 2020, the team has improved their record each season, culminating with this year's OVC regular season title. 

One of those seniors, Giovana Larregui López, got things started for the Panthers with nine kills in the first set as Eastern cruised to a 1-0 lead. Fellow seniors Ella Collins and Emily Wilcox had four kills each in the set, with Wilcox recording a red hot .800 attack percentage. Meanwhile, Sylvia Hasz started off her night with a huge 17 assists in the frame, as the Panthers recorded 21 total kills on team hitting percentage of .436. 

Also in the opening set, Christina Martinez had eight digs in her only action of the match, while Natalie Mitchem recorded a pair of kills. Mitchem would pick up three more kills in set two before getting the rest of the evening off. 

Collins and Wilcox kept the tag team going in set two, with both players smashing six kills as Hasz racked up another 15 assists. However, the Leathernecks were able to squeak out a win to even the match at one set apiece. In the following set, WIU picked up another win to take a 2-1 lead, as Ella Collins again led the EIU attack with six kills along with Tori Mohesky. 

The Panthers fell into a 5-0 hole is set two, but refused to go down easy, responding with a 6-0 run to capture the lead. The teams then traded a couple of lead changes before another Panthers' run put EIU up for good. Ella Collins continued to steal the show, this time racking up a team-leading seven kills in the set. 

In the extra set, EIU finished off the regular season with an emphatic 7-1 run to close out the match. Sylvia Hasz handed out 10 assists in the set while Ella Collins accounted for half of Eastern's ten kills, which brough her match total to 28. 

Five Panthers set at least one new career high in the match:

The Panthers will now set their sights on the OVC Tournament, which commences Monday morning in Lantz Arena. The opening match is set for 10 a.m., with EIU scheduled to play at 1 p.m. againt Little Rock.