This year’s Panther volleyball team is currently 11-11, but only 3-6 in the Ohio Valley Conference. They are 8-5 in non-conference matches.

With the second half of their OVC schedule imminent, the time is now or never for Eastern to reverse the pattern of poor play within the OVC.

They have nine games left on their schedule, all within conference, so time is not up just yet for the Panthers. But if they’re going to turn it around, as the saying goes, there’s no time like the present.

With some nagging injuries to starters finally behind them, the Panthers certainly seem poised for a turnaround. But it will take more than health for the Panthers to undo their OVC struggles.

They need to maintain their focus and energy throughout matches, something that they admittedly struggled with earlier in the season.

They have been improving lately, but there is still some definite room for improvement and the team simply cannot afford to be content with the improvements they have already made.

Newly ignited competition for the outside hitter spot fueled by the return of senior Alex Zwettler from libero and healthy junior libero Brittany Wallace, just might be the spark the Panthers need to push themselves to the next level.

The team and its fans can only hope that this sparks continuation in the team’s improvement, because there isn’t much time left for the team to turn around its season.

The Panthers recent three-game winning streak showed flashes of good things to come, but we can’t yet be certain of whether or not this light at the end of the tunnel is only an oncoming train.

On the other hand, maybe the key to reinvigoration for the Panthers is simply recapturing the attitude of the preseason, where Eastern went 7-5 before starting conference play.

Early in the season, Eastern was out to prove that they deserved respect from more nationally well-known teams, but as the season began, they seemed to lose some of that edge.

Perhaps it is the wear and tear of the season getting to them, or maybe it’s the monotony of the daily grind setting in.

Whatever the case, the Panthers seemed to lose a step when they began conference play, losing five of their first six OVC matches.

The Panthers will now head into the part of the schedule where they play their OVC opponents for a second time, which can be a positive thing because they have seen first-hand what some of these teams’ strengths and weaknesses are.

On the other side of the coin, though, this could work against the Panthers in the same way.

Whether it is a matter of finally being healthy, maintaining their energy level throughout matches, or just recapturing the drive and focus of the preseason, the Panthers need to step up their collective game, and soon, or else the season may be lost.

Brad Kupiec can be reached at

581-7944 or bmkupiec@eiu.edu.