First Round Match 

Eastern Illinois (24-7) vs. #3 Wisconsin (24-4) 

Date & Time: December 4th at 7:00 p.m. 

Live Coverage: ESPN+ | Live Stats

Ticket Information: Click Here

All Time Series: 1-4 

For All 2025 NCAA Tournament Information, Click Here

The Panthers will compete in their second NCAA Tournament in the past three years after sweeping Morehead State in the OVC championship match. In 2023, EIU fell to Marquette in the first round of the tournament. EIU heads into this year's first round with a 24-7 overall record after finishing 15-3 in the OVC. 

Panthers NCAA Tournament History:  

The Panthers have two prior NCAA Volleyball Tournament appearances, with the most recent one in 2023. Eastern Illinois faced Marquette at Purdue University and lost 3-0. In 2023, EIU won the OVC with a roster that had some familiar faces, including Catalina Rochaix, the setter of the year winner and first team all-conference. In addition to Rochaix, Tori Mohesky, Sylvia Hasz, Laura Paniagua, and Lilli Amettis returned from the championship squad. The first NCAA Tournament appearance was in 2001, in which EIU fell to Arizona 3-0 in Champaign, Illinois.  

Catalina Rochaix:  

OVC All-Tournament team. She has won two OVC Setter of the Year Awards and 1st Team All-OVC selections (2023 and 2025). 2025 Season Match Highs: 56 assists, 15 digs, and 6 total blocks. Has reached over 50+ assists in four matches and 40+ assists in 17 matches. Surpassed the 3,000-assist milestone against Western Illinois on October 14th.  Led the OVC and ranked 7th in the nation in assists per set with 10.86. Off the court, she has been selected as an OVC Academic Medal of Honor and Academic All-District recipient. 

Lilli Amettis:  

Second Team All-OVC. OVC Tournament MVP. Named OVC Preseason Player to Watch. 2025 Season Match Highs: 18 kills, 23 digs, and 7 total blocks. Double-digit kills in 15 matches this season. Ranked in the OVC top ten for hitting percentage at .269.  

Emma Schroeder: 

OVC All-Tournament Team. 2025 Season Match Highs: 16 kills and 9 total blocks. Double-digit kills in 5 matches. 9+ blocks in 13 matches. 

Tori Mohesky:  

2023 OVC All-Freshman Team (Beach Volleyball). 2025 Season Match Highs: 17 kills, 14 digs, and 5 blocks. Reached double-digit kills in 7 matches. Off the court, she is an Academic All-District recipient. 

Laura Paniagua:  

Checks into the match to serve for the Panthers. 2025 Season Match Highs: 26 digs. Off the court, she was named an Academic All-District recipient. 

Destiny Walker: 

First Team All-OVC. 2025 Season Match High: 23 kills, 21 digs, and 8 blocks. Double-digits kills in 27 matches. 20+ kills in 5 matches. Ranked second in the OVC for kills per set with 4.04. Also ranked second in the OVC for points per set with 4.51.  

Katie Kopshever: 

First Team All-OVC. 2025 Season Match Highs: 16 kills, 15 digs, and 6 total blocks. Double-digit kills in 21 matches. Ranks tenth in the OVC for points per set with 3.52.  

Ariadna Pereles: 

Second Team All-OVC. 2025 Season Match Highs: 31 digs and 10 assists. Double-digit digs in 28 matches. 20+ digs in 12 matches. Ranks 25th in the country and 2nd in the OVC for assists per set with 4.78.  

Anaya Rawlinson:  

2025 Season Match Highs: 9 kills and 10 total blocks. Recorded 5+ blocks in 7 matches.  

Head Coach Ryan Millar:  

The EIU volleyball team is now led by new head coach Ryan Millar. The 14th coach in program history took over the reins starting with beach volleyball in the spring of 2024. Miller was a fifteen-year member of the USA Men's National Team and a part of the 2008 USA Olympic gold medal-winning team. Prior to Eastern Illinois, Miller served as associate head coach at San Diego Miramar College for three seasons. In addition, Coach Miller was the interim head coach for BYU's men's program in 2007 and earned a record of 24-6. Coach Millar was named OVC Coach of the Year after leading the Panthers to a 24-7 (15-3 OVC) record.  

Tournament Schedule 
Thursday, Dec. 4th 
North Carolina vs #6 UTEP | 4:30 p.m. CT 
Eastern Illinois vs #3 Wisconsin - 30 minutes following the conclusion of UNC vs UTEP 
 
Friday, Dec. 5th 
First Round Winners - 7:00 p.m. CT