Eastern freshman setter Hannah Deterding‘s main responsibility is to create scoring opportunities for the Panthers’ hitters.

But Deterding can also attack.

Against Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky, Deterding had 20 attack attempts and four kills. She primarily hit the ball over the net on the second team hit.

“Since I’m left handed, I’m used to hitting on the second hit,” Deterding said. “It gives the offense versatility.”

Morehead State junior libero Kristina Schoo said it was a challenge digging and defending Deterding’s attacks.

“Blocking her and reading her is difficult because she can select her spots well,” Schoo said. “She is a great player.”

Panthers see double

The Panthers faced Morehead State’s two-setter offensive formation Friday. Most teams utilize just one setter.

Eagles’ senior setter Katelyn Barbour and sophomore setter Kirstie Brangers started and provided numerous options for Morehead State’s offensive attack against Eastern.

Both Barbour and Brangers had 19 assists each. Barbour, who also plays as an outside hitter, had four kills in the match.

“Part of having (two setters) allows us to have three hitters up front and allows more versatility,” Eagles’ head coach Jaime Gordon said. “It is a hard thing to do, but we have two capable setters to run it.”

Conference competition open

Eastern Kentucky head coach Lori Duncan said she told Panthers’ head coach Lori Bennett the Ohio Valley Conference race was wide open this season.

“It’s anyone’s game today, and against other conference foes you can go 0-2 in a weekend then go 2-0 the next,” Duncan said.

Duncan said besides Morehead State, OVC teams have too many new intangibles and new players for consistency.

“It’s a long process and a long season,” Duncan said. “It’s about resilience. Eastern is going to be OK.”

Panthers’ injury update

Freshman outside hitter Shannon Hullum will have surgery on Friday in Texas to repair a torn labrum in her right shoulder.

Hullum will red-shirt this season.

Junior libero Shaina Boylan had surgery to remove her tonsils because of tonsillitis. She will be able to play on Friday, but Bennett said Boylan would not play this weekend so she could recover her strength.

Sophomore outside hitter Kelsey Orr has been playing with shoulder soreness. Bennett said Orr’s offensive contribution has been down with three kills in the last three matches.

Bob Bajek can be reached at 581-7944 or at rtbajek@eiu.edu.