Having its first start in 2022, Eastern’s beach volleyball has started its fourth season with the university. The team’s first and only home game is on Thursday against Lindenwood University at Sister City Park.  

“Not a lot of people really know we also compete at the beach, and whenever we get the topic brought up, they just seem so surprised and confused,” senior Laura Paniagua said.  

The Panthers are currently in their fourth season as an official Eastern Illinois University recognized team. This season, Eastern is currently 0-5 and has scored a combined three sets throughout their season, giving up a total of 22.   

The Panthers are 0-2 on away courts and 0-3 on neutral courts. Against Tennessee Tech on March 22, Eastern’s No.5 pair of juniors Tori Mohesky and Sylvia Hasz earned a point for Eastern, along with No. 4 pair of junior Lilli Amettis and redshirt junior Julia Udell.  

In their match against Lindenwood on March 29, Mohesky and Hasz scored the Panthers’ lone point of the event.   

Hasz said the beach volleyball season has been going smooth thus far even if their record doesn’t show it.  

“We’ve been able to practice indoor and outdoor making a lot of progress despite what the numbers say,” Hasz said. “This beach season for us is really a start of a new page, getting back to the basics and gaining that confidence back for where we want and can be competing in the fall.”  

Eastern will play its only home match of the season against Lindenwood at Sister City Park on Thursday at 1 p.m.  

This will be the team’s fourth ever time playing at home with all of the matches hosted at Sister City Park. Eastern currently has a 2-2 record when playing at home.  

“It always feels good and exciting to play at home, especially since we don’t get to do it often,” Paniagua said.  

This game will be the last for the team before they get to compete in Ohio Valley Conference Weekend at Morehead State, where they will play their remaining four matches before the tournament.  

Their remaining games are against UT Martin and Morehead State on April 18 and Tennessee Tech and Chattanooga on the next day.  

These are all teams that Eastern faced earlier in their season, with the games finishing in a loss.   

Eastern only competes in the Ohio Valley Conference. They are currently ranked sixth in the conference.  

The Panthers were picked to finish in sixth place in the preseason poll. In that poll, the player to watch from Eastern was senior Kaitlyn Flynn, who was named All-OVC First team in volleyball in 2022.  

Because they don’t get to play a lot of beach volleyball games at home, Flynn is excited to play at home on Thursday against the Lindenwood Lions.  

“I’m really excited about having our game at home,” Flynn said. “We don’t get the opportunity to play many beach games at home so getting this opportunity is great and getting to play in front of the people who support us and the program.”  

Although this isn’t Eastern’s first season in beach volleyball, the team is working with a new coach.    

Ryan Millar, the newest head volleyball and beach volleyball coach is in his first year at Eastern after being hired in March. Millar is the third head coach in Eastern’s beach volleyball program history.  

Hasz said the team has been connecting great with Millar so far, as he brings a great mindset and attitude every day.  

“He brings a fresh mindset and attitude that we all need,” Hasz said. “He obviously comes with a lot of experience. It’s been great just being able to be in the same gym and learn from an Olympian. So, everyone’s been soaking in everything he has to say and add to our team.”  

Emerson Reynolds can be reached at 581-2812 or at etreynolds@eiu.edu.