By Anthony Catzone

Sports Editor | @AnthonyCatz

The Eastern volleyball team moved into first place in the west division of the Ohio Valley Conference, sweeping its weekend matches against Murray State and Austin Peay.

Eastern took the top spot in the west from Austin Peay with a four-set win (25-20, 25-27, 25-22, 25-19) Saturday night.

Eastern improved to 13-10 overall and 7-3 in conference. Austin Peay feel to 9-17 overall and 6-4 in the OVC.

Outside hitter Reynae Hutchinson, coming off an OVC Offensive Player of the Week, had a match-high 19 kills for the Panthers. Her 15 digs were also her 37th career double-double performance.

Hutchinson was one of three Panthers to have double-digit kills in the win. Middle hitters Stephanie Arnold and Amy Martin added 11 kills each with .233 and .360 attack, respectively.

“I think our defense and passing has allowed our middles to be a big part of our offense,” Eastern coach Kate Price said in a press release. “Stephanie and Amy have been very offensive. They are doing a great job of finding ways to score and throwing themselves into the offense.”

Arnold and Martin added eight and six kills, respectively.

Sophomore setter Marah Bradbury had her fifth consecutive double-double performance, her match-high of 54 assists along with her 12 digs is her 17th double-double of her Panther career.

“Marah had a really nice game today and did a great job of seeing the block,” Price said.

The Panthers topped the Lady Govs in kills (61-to-49), attack (.197-to-.117), assists (60-to-44), blocks (13.5-to-11.0), and points (78.5-to-64.0).

Eastern began the weekend with a win over Murray State in straight sets (25-21, 25-22, 25-15) on Friday.

It was the first of two consecutive matches that three Panthers registered double-digit kills.

Arnold recorded a game-high 17 kills in the win behind a career-high .810 attack on 21 attempts with zero errors.

That is the third best hit percentage in Eastern history. Arnold was also one kill shy of tying her career high.

Martin nabbed 12 kills with a .360 attack. Outside hitter Chelsea Lee finished with 11 kills and a .391 hit percentage, as the Panthers out-hit the Lady Govs .346-to-.171.

Sophomore outside hitter Kayla Nesbitt finished one kill away from double figures in the first start of her career.

Eastern won the battle in kills 58-to-34. Bradbury, who assisted on 47 of those kills, also added a game-high 20 digs. The Panthers had 54 assists to the Racers’ 30.

“It’s always great to be in the position we are in, but the season isn’t over yet and we need to finish out the season,” Price said. “We have done a great job of getting better each match and I hope we continue to grow as a team to maintain that success.”

The Panthers, who have six conference games remaining, are looking to finish with a conference record above .500 for the first time since 2005. Eastern is 7-3 in the OVC this season.

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