The Panthers volleyball season came to a close Friday in SEMO on a sour note.

Eastern was shut out 3-0 by the Otahkians in a match where the Panther offense was held nearly ineffective.

The Panthers held a .106 attack average to SEMO’s .396.

SEMO had three players in double-digit kills with Sarah Frost and Emily Johnson leading the way (12 kills). Jessica Houpt had 11.

Erica Gerth ended her sophomore season with a team-high eight kills, but had six errors. Classmate Lindsay Perkins blasted six kills and 23 assists.

The Panthers were out-blocked 7-4 while each team committed two blocking errors.

Eastern couldn’t capitalize on SEMO’s 10 service errors and made six of its own.

The Panthers were out-dug 50-41. Freshman Sarah Niedospial led her team with 12 digs while Gerth chipped in with 10.

Eastern finishes its season at 9-21 overall and 4-12 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

The Panthers failed to make the league tournament for the first time since joining the OVC in 1995.

Eastern won the conference tournament last season earning a berth to the NCAA tourney where it lost to Arizona in the first round.