The Eastern volleyball team wrapped up its non-conference schedule with a 6-7 record with a runner-up finish at the Kent State Golden Flashes Classic this weekend.

It was the Panthers second runner-up finish in their four tournaments before entering Ohio Valley Conference play.

The Panthers finished preseason non-conference play with a 3-9 record last season. They were entering the OVC schedule on a four-game losing streak, which eventually escalated into 10 games.

With nine of their 21 losses coming in non-conference play last season, the Panthers appear to be in better shape than their No. 6 seed finish in the OVC tournament in 2012. Their overall record of 6-7 ranks the Panthers third in the west division of the OVC.

The last 16 games remaining on Eastern’s schedule are all conference games. Eastern closed out its conference schedule last season with a 7-2 record — finishing 8-8 overall in the OVC — before losing to eventual champion Belmont in the first round of the OVC tournament.

OVC Setter of the Week

Sophomore setter Marah Bradbury won the OVC Setter of the Week for the third time in her career for her performance in the Kent State Golden Flashes Classic.

Bradbury compiled 126 assists, an 11.45 assist per set average, 14 kills and a .560 hit percentage in the three matches over the weekend.

She guided the Panthers to a .278 hitting percent, their highest weekend total all season. The Panthers hit .234 or more in each match, after they did not hit more than .189 during last weekend’s tournament.

Bradbury recorded a season-high 53 assists, while hitting .833 (5-of-6 with zero errors) in Eastern’s four-set win over Binghamton.

In Eastern’s lone loss to eventual champion and host Kent State, Bradbury dished out 39 assists, while recording seven kills behind a .500 attack.

The Decatur, Ind., native began the tournament with a 34-assist performance in the sweep over the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Bradbury did not record a single error in all 11 sets the Panthers played this weekend. She now leads the OVC with 10.14 assists per set — the only player in double-figures.

Tournament honors

Two Panthers earned All-Tournament honors at the Kent State Golden Flashes Classic this weekend, second most among the entire tournament.

Senior outside hitter Reynae Hutchinson and junior middle hitter Kelsey Roggemann were both named to the All-Tournament Team.

Hutchinson nabbed 38 kills and 34 digs in three matches. She recorded her 28th and 29th double-doubles of her career with 12 kills and 15 digs against Illinois-Chicago, and 12 kills and 11 digs against Kent State.

She led the Panthers in kills in all three games, with a weekend-high of 14 against Binghamton.

It was Hutchinson’s third career All-Tournament honor.

Roggemann, meanwhile, totaled 26 kills, eight blocks, seven digs and three service aces over the weekend. She led the Panthers with a .429 attack in the opening match against Illinois-Chicago.

She was second highest on the Panthers among blocks for the weekend, and third highest among kills.

It was Roggemann’s second career All-tournament honor.

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