It is only the first weekend of the volleyball season but Eastern head coach Brenda Winkeler already has lofty goals for the Panthers as they host the Pepsi/Super 8 Invitational this weekend at Lantz Arena.

“We want to win the tournament,” Winkeler said. “It’s our first test, so we want to find out our strengths and weaknesses. The real games are a lot different than the practice games.”

If the previous two years are any indication, Eastern will fair quite well in their lone home tournament.

In 2001, the Panthers finished second behind champion Wright State in a group that also included Central Michigan and Montana. Last year Eastern once again garnered the runner-up spot by overcoming an opening loss to eventual champion Toledo, only to come back strong on day two of the tournament to defeat Chattanooga and Depaul.

This year’s invitational will see Drake, Evansville and Western Illinois making the trip to Charleston. According to Winkeler, the tournament is up for grabs with all four teams trying to rebound from sub-par 2002 seasons.

“All of the teams struggled last year,” Winkeler said. “We feel good going into the tournament, but it’s a funny world, you never know what will happen.”

Of the other three teams involved in the tournament the Panthers should receive the strongest challenge from the Drake Bulldogs.

Drake suffered through a 7-25 record last season, but return talented sophomore Stacy Boerema who led the team with an average of 3.53 kills per game and a total of 374 on the season. With one year behind her, Boerema is on pace to break Brandy Ossian’s school record of 1,166 kills. Aiding Boeremia on the Drake squad are senior outside hitter Kristin Lickiss (2.09 kills and 1.7 digs per contest), and senior hitter Jessica Wilson who blocked nearly one shot per game.

Evansville will bring a familiar face to town as former Morehead State head coach Mike Swan comes back to Lantz Arena, this time as the new front man of the Purple Aces.

Swan will attempt to turn around the Purple Aces after a 5-27 season. Evansville returns four starters from last year’s team including Second-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference player Jill Fennemna.

Also back this year are Jenny Zenthoefer and her 1.14 blocks per game, and Erica Haukap who averaged 6.98 assists per tilt.

Western Illinois will return three starters from last year’s 3-26 team. Despite the Westerwinds poor record, current sophomore Jessica Manning was named the Mid-Continent Conference’s Freshman of the Year. In earning the award, Manning averaged 3.02 kills and 3.88 digs per game.

Sophomore Jamie Hastings also impressed in an otherwise dismal year for Western. Hastings finished second behind Manning with 2.2 kills and nearly three digs per gme.

Western will start the season with many new faces, as head coach Kym McKay brought in five junior college transfers and six freshman for the 2003 season.

The Panthers can look at the Pepsi/Super 8 Invitational as a potential spring board for their season. Coming off a 9-21 season, the Panthers were picked ninth in the 11 team preseason Ohio Valley Conference preseason ranking. Murray State and Southeast Missouri were tied for the top spot with 88 points. Morehead State was picked third with 82 points while newcomer Jacksonville State (71) and defending champion Tennessee-Martin (69) rounded out the top five.

With the Panthers picked among the lower third of the conference, Winkeler said the ranking could be the type of bulletin board material needed to motivate the Panthers.

“The rankings usually reflect on where you finished last year,” Winkeler said. “We’ll use the ranking as an incentive this season.”

The Panthers will open their season against Western at 7 p.m. on Friday. Eastern will be back in action Saturday at 1 p.m. against Evansville and play their second game of the day against Drake at 7 p.m. Evansville and Drake will kick off the tournament action at 4 p.m. Friday.