The conference standings are now tied at the top after EIU opens the weekend with a 3-0 sweep over the conference leader, Morehead State. The Panthers improve to 19-6 (13-2 OVC), while the Eagles drop to 19-7 (13-2 OVC).  

Set One: Going into the weekend, both teams knew it would be a tight battle, which was on display early with the Panthers and Eagles trading points. With the score knotted up at 9, EIU found the first momentum charge of the night with a 3-0 scoring run to take the early 12-19 lead. Heading into the media timeout, the Panthers remained out in front with a 15-13 lead. The Eagles used to break in the action to regroup using a 3-0 run of their own to take a 16-15 advantage. Late in the match, Morehead State threatened to close the set with a 24-22 lead after a 3-0 scoring run. How the Panthers did not panic and scored four straight points after a timeout to win the first set 26-24. Set one featured 19 tie scores and 12 lead changes. 

Set Two: The Eagles started red hot in the second set, leading 5-0 early. Once again EIU was not fazed by the pressure, tying the match at 8 apiece. The Panthers continued their run, finding themselves in the lead 12-9 after a 4-0 scoring run. Morehead State was forced to use a timeout to stop the bleeding, but the EIU Panther nation of 423 fans was roaring, pushing the Panthers to extend to 16-10 after back-to-back kills by Destiny Walker. The Eagles used their second timeout of the set and attempted a late comeback, cutting the score to 23-18. However, EIU closed out set two 25-18, charged by an Emma Schroeder kill. 

Set Three: Set three was all EIU, jumping out to a 10-5 lead early in the set. The Panthers extended their dominating start to a 13-6 lead after an Ariadna Pereles service ace. After an Eagles timeout, the Panthers ran away with the match, scoring the next 5 out of 6 points charged by Lilli Amettis directing the offense. Not too long after, the Panthers put the match out of reach using another long scoring run with a late 22-10 lead. The Panthers earned match one victory of the weekend after a kill by the player of the game, Destiny Walker.  

By The Numbers:Destiny Walker led the way offensively with 17 kills, 20 points, and a .438 hitting percentage. Kopshever followed with 14 kills and a .542 hitting percentage. Catalina Rochaix produced 30 assists. As a team, EIU recorded 47 kills, 44 assists, 6 blocks, and a .396 hitting percentage.  

EIU and Morehead State will battle for first place in the standings tomorrow on senior night at 4:00 p.m.