Eastern swept on weekend match-up

The Panthers drop their fifth straight match overall and are swept by Tennessee-Martin to bring their record to 4-15 overall and 2-7 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Sophomore Reynae Hutchinson led all players in kills with 13 and also had eight digs Friday.

The team, however, was unable to snap their losing streak and dropped a three-set OVC road match at Tennessee-Martin (26-24, 25-14, 25-16).

Her partner in crime for the past couple of matches, junior Emily Franklin, had five kills and five digs, while senior Christie Albers brought some light to the match recording her third double-double and the 15th in her career.

The Panthers were looking to hand Tennessee-Martin their fourth consecutive loss in the all-time series between the two league rivals.

In both wins last season, the Panthers were leading in almost every category, including kills and assists.

Friday, however, they were bested in almost every aspect of the game, including kills (40 to 28), attack (.277 to .026), assists (40 to 26), aces (4 to 2), digs (48 to 44), and blocks (7 to 4).

After a hard fought match with 19 ties and seven lead changes, the Panthers just could not pick up a victory.

The team, however, says the focus is always on the future.

“The past is the past and there is a new EIU volleyball team every year,” said Franklin. “I don’t like to look at whether we lost to them or not the last time we played just because on every given night the outcome will be different.”

The Panthers travel to Jacksonville State Friday and Tennessee Tech Saturday to continue OVC play.

Lenny Arquilla can be reached at 581-7944 or [email protected]