Upsetting Wake Forest and going toe-to-toe with then No. 23 ranked Michigan isn’t enough for Eastern’s volleyball team, with the entire team believing in its potential, the Panthers are determined to improve.

Freshman libero Stephanie Wallace may be new to the team, but her play doesn’t show it. Wallace and her teammates see their potential, now it is just time to show it.

“We just have so much potential, even Emily Franklin, a senior on the team, said this is one of the best squads we’ve had in a long time and now it’s our time to show it,” Wallace said.

The Panthers sit at 3-6 on the season, with three non-conference tournaments in the books.

Most recently, they saw a 1-2 performance in the Ambassador Hotel Marquette Golden Eagle Classic, Sept. 7-8, where an upset win over Wake Forest was overshadowed by two defeats that came in straight sets to Marquette and Michigan, now ranked No. 22.

Despite being able to compete with two highly regarded teams, the Panthers still are not happy with the losses. Wallace said the tournament resembled their season so far.

“This season kind of goes along with what we saw the Marquette tournament,” Wallace said. “We started off really well in games, and then in the middle we had a little lull and tried to pick it up in the end.”

The Panthers will attempt to start off strong and keep it that way as they head to University Park, Penn., where Penn State will play host to the Penn State Classic, Sept. 14-15.

Head coach Kate Price, a Penn State alum, won a championship with it in 2007.

The Nittany Lions fell from the No. 2 ranking in the nation, to the No. 4 ranking after suffering their first loss of the season to Oregon State, last weekend.

The Panthers will also compete against Duquesne University and the University of Portland.

Around the OVC

In the West division, Eastern is currently in fourth, Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and Austin Peay rank ahead of them.

Southeast Missouri has the best overall record among Ohio Valley Conference teams at 6-4, with recent wins over Evansville, South Florida and East Carolina.

Highlighted recent losses for the Redhawks come at the hands of Western Michigan, Wisconsin-Milwaukee and St. Louis.

Southern Illinois-Edwardsville comes in at 4-5 after splitting two matches with Western Illinois, and other wins coming over Indiana State and Loyola.

However, big losses against Akron and Youngstown State followed, leaving them a game below .500.

Austin Peay has played the most games thus far and has a record of 5-9, but comes on a hot streak winning three of their last four matches.

The Governors had three straight set victories over East Tennessee, Lamar University and Alabama State in the Hampton Inn ‘Bama Bash. Their lone loss in the tournament came to host Alabama.

In the East division, only one team sits above .500 as well with Jacksonville State currently sitting at 6-5.

But in their last seven matches they have posted a 2-5 record.

The most notable losses in that span are to Auburn, South Dakota and Central Arkansas.

Their two wins come as straight set victories over Jackson State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

A game back, sits the defending OVC champions Morehead State. Since the Eagles started off the season 0-5, they are surging, winning five of their last six games. Missouri, Valparasio and Savannah State were the opponents during their current three-game win streak.

Anthony Catezone can be reached at 581-2812 or ajcatezone@eiu.edu