The Eastern volleyball team will enter OVC play this Friday against SIUE and there are many players that have stood out this season.

Offensively, the Panthers have a variety of players that have stepped up to the net.

Sophomore outside hitter Kaitlyn Flynn has flourished in the last seven matches. Flynn has 97 kills and currently leads the OVC.

Flynn’s performance earlier this season at the Geri Polvino Invitational earned her Offensive OVC Player of The Week. Flynn had a season high of 29 kills against Eastern Kentucky, leading her team to win the invitational.

Flynn also adds 15 digs for the season.

Junior outside hitter Giovana Larregui Lopez currently has 92 kills for the season, putting her at third place in the OVC in kills.

Her season high of 17 kills came against Chicago State and she was three kills short of tying her season high against Western Illinois.

Fellow junior and outside hitter Ella Collins is also essential for the Panthers on offense. 

Collins leads the team with 105 kills for the season. Her season high of 16 kills came earlier in the season against Oakland. Collins also has 51 digs for the season and her season high of 12 digs came against Chicago State. 

Defensively, the Panthers are led by junior libero Christina Martinez Mundo. 

Mundo has 250 digs for the season which ranks second in the OVC. Her performance on defense has also earned her a national rank. Mundo’s 250 digs is enough to earn her 10th place in the nation for both total digs and digs per set at 5.32.

Mundo’s season high of 38 digs came against Chicago State. She also has 48 assists this season.

Fellow libero Ashley Sharkus is key on defense as well as she has 61 digs for the season with her season high of 16 coming against Eastern Kentucky.

Senior middle blocker Ireland Hieb leads the Panthers with 30 blocks. Hiebs’ season high of eight blocks came against the University of Illinois.

Freshman setter Catalina Rochaix has 237 assists for the season with her season high of 31 coming against Eastern Kentucky.

Rochaixs’ performance this season has earned her eighth place in the OVC for assists.

Summerlyn Smith is second on the team with 131 assists.

Autumn Schulz can be reached at 581-2812 or acschulz@eiu.edu.