At the end of Eastern volleyball’s 3-1 win over Tennessee Tech, as the players were cooling down, sophomore middle blocker Julia Stanev flashed a heart with her hands at the stands.
The heart was directed at six women’s soccer players, the loudest group in attendance at Greek Night.
“Most of them are my close friends, we love each other,” said Stanev. “They’re always here to support us. We try to make it to their games but we’re always away. But yeah, they match our energy.”
Alongside the soccer players, a handful of sororities and fraternities made it out to the game. They too contributed to the lively atmosphere in the arena.
“When we pack [Groniger], and the crowd is loud, it one hundred percent gives us momentum, and it one hundred percent takes it away from the opponent,” said Panthers head coach Sara Thomas. “I’m really happy with the turnout. Especially when they’re engaged and up and screaming. Man, we could use that every night.”
Eastern’s win puts the Panthers at 6-12 on the season (2-6 in conference). Tennesee Tech took their fourth loss of the season, falling to 15-4 (4-3).
The Panthers’ junior setter Catalina Rochaix had the first serve of the game that went for a kill to give Tennessee Tech the first point of the game. After falling behind 2-0 in the first set the Panthers went on to win 25-22 to take a 1-0 set lead.
In the second set, the Panthers would only score 11 points allowing Tennessee Tech to tie the game at one set a piece. The Panthers bounced right back, however.
“After the second set, I told them it’s a whole new game and the score is 0-0, and I think their focus just reset,” said Thomas.
In the third set, the Panthers would take the lead 7-6 after an attack error by Tennessee Tech’s senior outside hitter Madolyn Isringhausen.
A net violation ensued on the next play to extend the Panthers’ lead to 8-6. After three unanswered points, Tennessee Tech would tie the set 10-10.
The Panthers took control of the set after junior outside hitter Lilli Amettis’ kill and Tennessee Tech would only score five more points allowing the Panthers to win the set 25-18.
In the fourth and final set of the night, the Panthers built an early 7-0 lead. Tennessee Tech tried to make a comeback, and the score got as close as 13-12. But the Panthers did not let Tennessee Tech take the lead and Eastern won the set 25-18 to close out the night with a 3-1 victory.
The Panthers were led in kills by freshman outside hitter Destiny Walker (16) and junior outside hitter Matilda Dahlström (7), and Rochaix led the team in assists with 22.
“It felt so great we really started back over from 0 and we kept going and nothing was like finished even if we lost the set pretty big, we started over and everyone was fighting from the beginning and no one was giving up,” said Dahlström.
Eastern plays Tennessee Tech again on Saturday at 4 p.m. in Groniger Arena. It’s wear your Halloween costume night, according to Thomas.
Drew Farrell contributed to this story.
Aidan Cusack can be reached at 581-2812 or at atcusack@eiu.edu.
