The Eastern volleyball team will open its season this weekend as the Panthers play host for the Pepsi/ Super 8 Invitational at Lantz Arena.

Among the questions the Panthers will look to answer include who will replace departed senior Karen Liss and who will win the setter position battle between Nikki Fowler and Leanne Kreps.

Head coach Brenda Winkeler has not singled out any one person to replace Liss, who was second on the team in virtually every category including kills, total attacks and digs.

“On the left side we’re going to look at a couple of people challenging to replace Liss,” Winkeler said. “Mary Welch will help out on the other left side, and Jessica Ackerman will see some playing time in the front row.”

Not only do the Panthers lose Liss’ ability, but they will also have to replace her leadership. For that role, Winkeler said she will rely on her three upperclassman.

“[Senior] Chandra Hensley and juniors Shanna Ruxer and Erica Gerth are three people we will look for to lead us,” Winkeler said.

All three are logical choices based on their performance over the past few years.

Hensley, a junior college transfer from Parkland College, was named Second Team All-Collegiate Conference of central Illinois as a freshman at Parkland.

Ruxer led the Panthers with a .293 hitting percentage, which ranked eighth on the Eastern top 10 single season career list. The St. Meinard, Ind. native was second in blocks (80) and fourth in kills with an average on 2.19 per contest last season.

Gerth received many accolades during the 2002 season as she was named an honorable mention All-Ohio Valley Conference, and a CoSIDA Second Team Academic All-District V member. Gerth also was named OVC Player of the Week (9/3) and was part of the Quality Inn All-Tournament team.

The first few weeks of the practice have produced a heated battle for playing time at the setter position between incumbent sophomore Fowler and freshman Kreps. The competition got reduced to a pair after Lindsey Perkins opted not to come back for the 2003 schedule. The junior setter who is currently sixth in Panther history in assists left the team to pursue other options. According to Winkeler, it appears that Fowler has the inside track at the starting setter spot.

“Right now Nikki is [winning the battle] because of her experience,” Winkeler said. “But Leanne is doing a very nice job as well.”

Fowler planned to redshirt last season, but that idea was scratched at the mid way point of the season. The Sullivan native played in 10 of Eastern’s final 13 matches, starting three. She recorded season highs in kills(8), hitting percentage (.385), assists (43) and digs (11) against Austin Peay on Oct. 11, 2002.

Kreps lettered four years in volleyball at Maroa-Forsyth High School, and was twice named All-Okaw Valley Conference . She was also named the 2002 Macon County ‘Player of the Year’ as a senior.

Kreps is just one of four talented freshman looking to crack the Eastern lineup. Besides Welch who will fill in for Liss, Megan Wollin and Kara Sorenson are expected to make solid contributions during the season.

“All of our freshman are doing very well in the practice sessions,” Winkeler said. “Megan is doing a great job and will help us in the backrow . Kara will fill up the middle for us.”

The Panthers first match of the invitational will be Friday against Western Illinois at 7 p.m.

Sports reporter Michael Gilbert can be reached at [email protected]