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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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)
- 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.
