Winning streak cut short, team looks to rebound
Following this weekend’s win and loss split on the road, the Eastern volleyball team is 11-11 overall, and 3-6 in Ohio Valley Conference play.
After its match this Friday against Southeast Missouri, the Panthers will have faced each of their OVC foes at least once, having played Murray State twice already.
The Panthers will play the rest of the teams in the OVC once more this season following Friday’s match at SEMO.
This leaves the Panthers with nine more matches this regular season, all within the OVC.
If Eastern wins out the remainder of its schedule, the team would be 12-6 in conference play.
This weekend, the Panthers started their games by beating Tennessee-Martin, by scores of 20-25, 25-12, 25-19, 25-19.
Statistically, senior outside hitter Alex Zwettler led all players on the court with 14 kills. Zwettler added 10 digs for a double-double, the 43rd of her Panther career.
Junior setter Chrissie Albers posted assists on 43 of the Panthers’ 51 total kills in addition to having four blocks, two kills and one ace.
Senior middle blocker Jorie Dieter led the Panthers Friday with five blocks.
Junior libero Brittany Wallace chipped in 20 digs to lead Eastern.
This win gave the Panthers a three-game winning streak, something they had not had since their first three matches of the season.
The streak would be cut short by conference opponent Murray State however, as the Panthers lost in straight sets to the Racers.
The Panthers beat Murray State at Lantz Arena earlier this year, and this match was the first time for the Panthers to play a conference opponent for the second time this year.
Senior outside hitter Erin Hake led the Panthers with 11 kills and a .296 attack percentage, also adding two assists, two blocks, and eight digs for a solid performance.
Zwettler also posted double digit kills for the Panthers, putting away 10 balls and contributing six digs to the Panther effort.
The Panthers’ next match is on the road against SEMO, with first serve set for 7 p.m. in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
The team returns home Tuesday to take on Tennessee-Martin at 7 p.m. in Lantz Arena.
Around the OVC
Tennessee-Martin split its weekend games, beating SEMO in 5 sets before falling to the Panthers.
Austin Peay defeated Morehead State before losing to Eastern Kentucky.
Eastern Kentucky picked up a pair of victories, coming out on top against Tennessee State and Austin Peay.
Tennessee Tech won its only weekend match, defeating Jacksonville State in four sets.
Murray State won both of its matches, beating SEMO and Eastern.
Southern Illinois-Edwardsville lost two non-conference matches against Wisconsin-Milwaukee and DePaul.
Southeast Missouri State lost a pair of OVC matchups against Tennessee-Martin and Murray State.
Morehead State lost a five-setter to Austin Peay before sweeping Tennessee State.
Tennessee State lost a pair of matches to Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State.
Brad Kupiec can be reached at 581-7944 or admcnamee@eiu.ed
Winning streak cut short, team looks to rebound
Senior outside hitter Erin Hake spikes the ball during a game against Tennessee Tech Oct. 9 in Lantz Arena. (Jordan Boner
