For the first time since 2001, the Panthers will compete in the NCAA Volleyball Tournament.

As shown on the NCAA Championship selection show, Eastern will face a sixth seeded Marquette team on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. Central Standard Time at Purdue University.

Here are some key notes to know about this 20-10 Marquette Golden Eagles team:

• Ryan Theis is the head coach for the Golden Eagle’s volleyball team.

This is Theis’ tenth year in the head coaching position for Marquette as he started for the 2014 season.

14 years before he accepted the position at Marquette, Theis got his first ever coaching position as the head assistant coach for no team other than the Panthers.

• Marquette won the Big East Conference after sweeping Seton Hall 3-0. The Golden Eagles ended their regular season conference play with a 16-2 record.

Six days later, Marquette lost to St. John’s University for the Big East Championship 3-2.

Here are the Golden Eagles’ and Panthers’ leaders in kills, assists, service aces, digs and blocks throughout the 2023 season:

Kills:

• Marquette: senior outside hitter Aubrey Hamilton (402)
• Eastern: senior outside hitter Giovana Larregui López (458)

Assists:

• Marquette: junior setter Yadhira Anchante (864)
• Eastern: sophomore setter Catalina Rochaix (1254)

Service Aces:

• Marquette: junior outside hitter Jenna Reitsma (47)
• Eastern: senior outside hitter Giovana Larregui López (67)

Digs:

• Marquette: graduate libero/defensive specialist Sarah Kushner (421)
• Eastern: senior libero/defensive specialist Christina Martinez Mundo (659)

Blocks:

• Marquette: junior middle blocker Hattie Bray (93.0)
• Eastern: freshman middle blocker Julia Stanev (99.0)

Eastern and Marquette will compete in the first round of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament on Thursday in West Lafayette, IN at the Holloway Gymnasium at Purdue University.

The game is scheduled at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

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