Eastern volleyball is heading into the Ohio Valley Conference with a 10-1 non-conference record.

Here are some takeaways about the Panthers’ performance in their first 11 games of the season:

1. The Panthers swept six of their opponents 3-0.

Eastern did not let their opponents score in six of the 11 games during non-conference play.

Louisiana Monroe, Oral Roberts, UC Riverside, Arkansas State, Alabama A&M and Missouri (Sept. 14) did not win a set against the Panthers.

2. The Panthers went on a historical 10 game winning streak to start the season.

Eastern started their season 10-0. This was the best start for Eastern volleyball in program history.

The Panthers’ only loss of the non-conference season was to the Mizzou Tigers on Friday, Sept. 15. The Panthers lost to the Tigers 3-1.

3. Eastern players won MVP awards and tournament All-Tournament spots for all three tournaments they played.

Graduate outside/opposite hitter Natalie Mitchem won the EIU Panther Classic MVP award.

Sophomore setter Catalina Rochaix and senior outside hitter Giovana Larregui López joined Mitchem as All-Tournament Team selections.

Larregui López won the IUPUI Hampton Inn Invite MVP award.

Senior libero/defensive specialist Christina Martinez Mundo and sophomore middle blocker Kate Dean joined Larregui López for the All-Tournament selections.

Mitchem also won the Southern Illinois Saluki Bash MVP award after helping the Panthers record a 9-0 start.

Junior outside hitter Kaitlyn Flynn and Martinez Mundo were selected alongside Mitchem for the All-Tournament team.

4. Eastern lost eight sets but won 31 sets in an 11-game span.

The Panthers have only lost eight sets throughout 11 games. Eastern has won almost 80 percent of their sets throughout non-conference play.

5. Here are some players who are leading in stats for the Panthers:

• Kills: Natalie Mitchem (141) and Giovana Larregui López (128)
• Assists: Catalina Rochaix (377) and Sylvia Hasz (47)
• Service Aces: Giovana Larregui López (24) and Sylvia Hasz (20)
• Digs: Christina Martinez Mundo (213) and Giovana Larregui López (86)
• Blocks: Julia Stanev (36.0) and Natalie Mitchem (25.0)

6. Here are the non-conference records from every team in the OVC Conference:

• Eastern Illinois: 10-1
• Southeast Missouri: 8-3
• Morehead State: 7-5
• Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE): 6-5
• Lindenwood: 4-7
• Southern Indiana: 4-7
• Tennessee Tech: 4-7
• Little Rock: 3-7
• UT Martin: 2-8
• Western Illinois: 1-8
• Tennessee State: 0-10

Eastern will start their conference play against Southern Indiana on Monday at Lantz Arena.

The game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

Zaria Flippin can be reached at 581-2812 or zhflippin@eiu.edu.