Nearing the midway point of the season, the Eastern volleyball team has high hopes of contending in the Ohio Valley Conference, and this year they just might be able to do it.

Five games into OVC play, the Panthers are just 1-4, and are tied for second-to-last place in the conference.

However, the upside is that the next four teams ahead of Eastern in the standings, including Tennessee Martin, Tennessee State, Murray State, and Tennessee Tech are all below .500 as well.

This gives the Panthers a chance to pull right back into contention with a couple wins. Unlike last season, when the Panthers were 3-12 overall and had not yet won a game in the OVC, this year’s Panthers feel they have what it takes to turn the season around and contend for a playoff position.

“We want to make sure we’re in contention for the OVC playoffs, but to do that we have to win more games,” assistant coach Katie Price said.

The Panthers struggled early on in the season with injuries, but have recently been given a lift by the return of juniors Erin Hake and Kelsey Orr from foot injuries sustained early in the season.

With the return of Kelsey Orr, a bit of relief can be given to fellow junior outside hitter Alex Zwettler, who currently leads the team in double-double performances.

The one-two combination of Orr and Zwettler provide a nice attack that can cause problems for many teams in the conference.

Though it may take a couple of games for Orr to get back in the swing of things, her infamous jump serve and high attack numbers have certainly been welcomed back by the team.

Another big reason to believe the Panthers can turn it around and push toward the playoffs is the new attitude they have developed this year under new head coach Alan Segal.

“He definitely knows what he’s doing out there and it’s fun to see the girls learn from him and Price,” former libero and current assistant coach Shaina Boylan said.

A positive attitude is key to making a push toward the playoffs, and that is exactly what the Panthers have this year that was not there last year.

Though they may not yet be a powerhouse in the OVC, with a successful month of October, the Panthers can certainly establish themselves as a very competitive team.

If they play their cards right, this year’s Panthers team may very well find itself contending in the playoffs.

Kevin Maras can be reached at 581-7944 or kjmaras@eiu.edu.