The impressive season for the Panthers continues to be recognized after the Ohio Valley Conference announced the end-of-season honors. On Saturday, November 22nd, EIU was awarded five All-OVC selections, including a Player of the Year and Coach of the Year recipient.
Catalina Rochaix: OVC Setter of the Year/All-OVC First Team
Katie Kopshever: All-OVC First Team
Destiny Walker: All-OVC First Team
Lilli Amettis: All-OVC Second Team
Ariadna Pereles: All-OVC Second Team
Head Coach Ryan Millar has won the Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year. In his first season at the helm, coach Millar has completely turned around the energy in the locker room. Last season the Panthers had a 9-19 (5-13 OVC) record. Heading into the season, EIU was picked to finish 8th in the OVC preseason poll. A couple of months later, the Panthers now won their fourth OVC regular season title and will host the conference tournament for the second time in three years. Coach Millar has also led the program to their 8th 20-win season. On top of that, Millar becomes just the 3rd coach to win OVC Coach of the Year in program history.
Catalina Rochaix earned her second Ohio Valley Conference Setter of the Year and All-OVC First-Team selection, collecting her first awards in 2023. She is the only player to win the OVC Setter of the Year award in EIU history. Rochaix has been a staple in the Panthers program, surpassing 3,000 assists on October 14th against Western Illinois this season. Also, Catalina has produced over 1,000 assists during her senior year. On top of her assist numbers, Rochaix has totaled 104 sets, 267 digs, 43 blocks, 48 kills, and 13 service aces. Rochaix ranked 8th in the nation and 1st in the OVC for assists per set with 10.77. During the season, she won four OVC Setter of the Week awards.
The young sophomore, Katie Kopshever, was awarded an All-OVC First-Team selection. Kopshever has been a consistent offensive presence for coach Millar through the season. Kopshever has totaled 98 sets and 26 matches played, producing 307 kills, 243 digs, 41 blocks, and 24 service aces. Kopshever ranked 9th in the OVC in kills per set with 3.17. She also ranked 9th in the OVC for points per set with 3.65.
Alongside Kopshever, another sophomore, Destiny Walker, was awarded an All-OVC First-Team selection. Walker has been the cornerstone and directed the Panthers' offense all season long. Walker has appeared in 102 sets and 27 matches this season, producing 411 kills, 250 digs, 41 blocks, 33 service aces, and 22 assists. Walker leads the team and is ranked 2nd in the OVC in kills per set with 4.04.
The preseason player to watch, Lilli Amettis, was awarded an All-OVC Second-Team selection. Amettis has been a steady and reliable force for coach Millar and company. Over the course of the season, Amettis has appeared in 83 sets and 25 matches. In that time, she totaled 285.5 points, 252 kills (3.04 per set), 120 digs, and 58 blocks. Amettis ranks 9th in the OVC in hitting percentage at .267.
Ariadna Pereles, the anchor of the Panthers defense, was also awarded an All-OVC Second-Team selection. Throughout the season, Pereles earned an impressive reputation, in which teams started to avoid hitting towards her direction. During her sophomore season, she appeared in 109 sets and 29 matches. On the floor, she produced 545 digs, 143 assists, and 21 service aces. Pereles finished the regular season 16th in the nation and 2nd in the OVC for digs per set with 4.99.
Eastern Illinois will host the OVC Tournament at Gardella Family Court starting tomorrow, November 23rd, with the Championship match set for Tuesday, November 25th, at 6:00 PM. The Panthers will open the tournament against No. 8 seeded Lindenwood at 4:00 PM. Each match can be followed on ESPN+ and the live stats.
OVC Player of the Year: M.E. Hargan, Morehead State
OVC Defender of the Year: Andrea Roman, Little Rock
OVC Setter of the Year: Catalina Rochaix, Eastern Illinois
OVC Freshman of the Year: Aysa Thomas, Southern Indiana
OVC Coach of the Year: Ryan Millar, Eastern Illinois
All-OVC First Team
Katie Kopshever, OPP, So. – Eastern Illinois
Catalina Rochaix, S, Sr. – Eastern Illinois
Destiny Walker, OPP, So. – Eastern Illinois
Autumn Bax, RS, So. – Lindenwood
Andrea Roman, L, Jr. – Little Rock
M.E. Hargan, OH, Sr. - Morehead State
Sydney Sennett, S, Jr. – Morehead State
Lucy Arndt, OH, Jr. – Southeast Missouri
Ashby Willis, OH, Jr. – Southern Indiana
Jordan Karlen, S, Sr. – Tennessee Tech
Keyana Cruse, OH, Gr. – Western Illinois
All-OVC Second Team
Lilli Amettis, OH, Sr. – Eastern Illinois
Ariadna Pereles, L, So. – Eastern Illinois
Bella Cherry, OH, Jr. – Little Rock
A'lanae Margaritha, MB, Sr. – Little Rock
Hollan Everett, OH, Jr. – Morehead State
Amelia Nott, MB, Jr. – Morehead State
Marin Johnson, OH, So. – Southeast Missouri
Bianca Anderson, MB, Sr. – Southern Indiana
Aysa Thomas, S, Fr. – Southern Indiana
Bella Powell, OF, Sr. – Tennessee Tech
Kayla Bryant, OH, Sr. – UT Martin
