If it weren’t for the matches on Oct. 9 and Oct. 10 at Lantz Arena, a visitor to Eastern this month would barely know there was a volleyball team on campus.

The Eastern volleyball team has played eight out of its last 12 matches on the road and throughout the last six weeks, the Panthers have only spent two weekends in Charleston.

It seems as though the team’s theme song, at least in the month of October, should be “On the Road Again,” by Willie Nelson.

Before their home stand Oct. 9, which only lasted two games, the Panthers last home stand occurred all the way back on the weekend of Sept. 25, when Eastern hosted Tennessee State and Austin Peay in Lantz Arena.

Needless to say, the Panthers have been visiting far more than they have been hosting so far this season.

As anyone who has played in competitive sports knows, playing on the road takes a toll on the mind and body.

Not that playing a lot of road games is an excuse for a 1-9 Ohio Valley Conference record, but traveling almost every weekend can certainly play a part in a team’s struggles.

This weekend, the team will once again be on the road, making it 10 out of its last 14 matches.

The good news for the Panthers is that after their two road matches next week against Austin Peay and Tennessee State, their final six games of the season will all be in the comfort of Lantz Arena.

Even though the Panthers have struggled this season in the few games they have played at Lantz, perhaps the six-game home stand will be just what the doctor ordered to end the season.

As assistant coach Katie Price said, “One of our main goals for the rest of the season is to improve.”

As a team that has a main goal at this point to improve and prepare for next season, the Panthers final eight matches should be important for sharpening skills and fundamentals.

Though the Panthers may be a bit out of reach of the OVC playoffs, they have drastically improved on last season’s 4-25 overall record.

With their win against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville Sunday, the Panthers have already doubled their win total from last season and are now 8-15 overall.

With eight matches left, the Panthers can, if nothing else, tack on a few more wins and end the 2009 season with a bang during their last few games in Lantz Arena.

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