Eastern Illinois 11-6 (5-2 OVC) vs. Western Illinois 5-15 (2-5 OVC)
Date & Time: October 21st at 6:00 p.m.
Live Coverage: ESPN+ | Live Stats
All-Time Series: 25-16
Game One:
Eastern Illinois 11-6 (5-2 OVC) vs. Little Rock 11-9 (6-2 OVC)
Date & Time: October 24th at 6:00 p.m.
Live Coverage: ESPN+ | Live Stats
All-Time Series: 7-1
Game Two:
Eastern Illinois 11-6 (5-2 OVC) vs. Little Rock 11-9 (6-2 OVC)
Date & Time: October 25th at 2:00 p.m.
Live Coverage: ESPN+ | Live Stats
All-Time Series: 7-1
The EIU Panthers will look to continue their hot streak with three more OVC matches this week. After hosting Western Illinois, Eastern Illinois will travel to Little Rock, Arkansas, for two key matches with OVC standings implications.
Looking Back: EIU used the past week to correct some mistakes by earning three wins over Western Illinois and SEMO. Catalina Rochaix, Emma Schroeder, and Destiny Walker led the way for the Panthers during their impressive week. Rochaix surpassed the 3,000 career assists mark against Western Illinois, in a match where she recorded 56 assists (14 per set). Emma Schroeder was dominant over the weekend against SEMO. Over the week-long period, Schroeder totaled 28 kills and 18 blocks, including 9 of them in a Friday night victory. Walker returned to form, recording 60 kills, 24 digs, and 64 points.
About the Panthers: EIU enters the week sitting in third place in the OVC behind Little Rock and Morehead State. With the 5-2 OVC record, the Panthers are near the top of the OVC in multiple statistical categories. EIU ranks first in assists with a 12.44 per set average, second in kills with a 13.30 per set average, third in points with a 16.23 per set average, and third in hitting percentage with .213. Eastern Illinois has also given up the least amount of service aces in the OVC, with 90 in total. Nationally, the Panthers rank 14th in the nation for team attacks per set with 37.69. EIU also ranked 12th in digs per set with 17.11. The Panthers are led by Catalina Rochaix, who surpassed the 3,000 career assist milestone last week and has totaled 646 assists this season. Defensively, Emma Schroeder leads the way with 58 total blocks, followed by Anaya Rawlinson, who has 52. The star libero, Ariadna Pereles, leads the OVC in digs with 327 (5.11 per set).
About Western Illinois: Not much has changed since Western Illinois faced off with EIU last week. WIU enters the contest at 5-15 (2-5 OVC). WIU is led by Keyana Cruse, who has recorded 269 kills, 14 assists, and 279 digs. Paired with Cruse on the defensive end is Grace Kremer, the team leader in blocks with 74. The last key contributor is Jaleah Bauss, the team leader in assists with 271. The Leathernecks are coached by Dale Starr, who is in his 3rd season at the helm. Western Illinois is in 9th place in the OVC, right behind Lindenwood.
About Little Rock: EIU will travel to the second-placed team in the OVC with a 6-2 record. Both matches this weekend will have serious OVC standing implications. The second and third-place seeded teams will face off with the hopes of staying in the hunt for the top position. The Trojans are led by Bella Cherry, Dariana Valencia, Andrea Roman, and Jaycee Kennedy. Cherry leads the offense with 251 kills, and Valencia leads the way with 422 assists. Defensively, Roman has recorded 379 digs, and Kennedy leads the team with 79 blocks. Little Rock is coached by Van Compton, who enters her 38th season. Compton enters the season ranked 8th among Division 1 coaches in career wins with 659.
All-Time Series: EIU holds a 25-16 advantage over Western Illinois. The previous meeting was just one week ago, in a match where the Panthers won 3-1.
There is a small sample size between Eastern Illinois and Little Rock. EIU holds a 7-1 all-time series lead. Last year, EIU split the season series 1-1.
All three matches can be followed using the Live Stats and ESPN+ Links above.
