Volleyball team takes on OVC preseason champion Morehead State

Giovana+Larregui+Lopez%2C+a+junior+outside+hitter%2C+jumps+to+spike+the+ball+during+the+volleyball+of+the+second+set+of+the+first+game+against+the+UT+Martin+Skyhawks+at+Lantz+Arena+Friday+afternoon.+Lopez+had+24+kills%2C+5+kills%2C+and+scored+27+points.+The+Panthers+won+3-2+against+the+Skyhawks.

Rob Le Cates

Giovana Larregui Lopez, a junior outside hitter, jumps to spike the ball during the volleyball of the second set of the first game against the UT Martin Skyhawks at Lantz Arena Friday afternoon. Lopez had 24 kills, 5 kills, and scored 27 points. The Panthers won 3-2 against the Skyhawks.

Autumn Schulz, Sports Editor

The Eastern volleyball team will be headed to Johnson Arena in Morehead, Kentucky to take on OVC preseason champion Morehead State for a weekend showdown starting on Thursday. 

The Panthers are coming off a split doubleheader against first-place UT Martin. The Panthers are currently second in the OVC with a 7-2 conference record. 

The doubleheader against the Skyhawks once again proved that the talent on the Panthers is enough to solidify their standings in the OVC. The Panthers went all five sets in both matches.  

Junior outside hitter Giovana Larregui Lopez set a new season high of 24 kills in match one against the Skyhawks. She currently leads the Panthers with a .315 hitting percentage. 

Sophomore outside hitter Kaitlyn Flynn added 16 kills in match one. In match two, Flynn was able to secure her tenth straight double-digit match as she posted 23 kills.  

Flynn and Lopez are currently at the top of the OVC standings as Flynn is first in the OVC with 208 kills, averaging 4.24 per set. Lopez is second with 190 kills, averaging 3.58 per set. There were 119 total kills against the Skyhawks, and Flynn and Lopez combined for 82 of them. 

Freshman setter Catalina Rochaix set a new career high of 43 assists in the second match against the Skyhawks. Rochaix is currently ninth in the OVC in assists with 409 for the season, averaging 5.84 per set. 

Junior libero Christina Martinez Mundo had a match high of 24 digs in match one. Mundo is currently second in the OVC in digs per set, averaging 5.40. In the NCAA, Mundo. ranks fifth in total digs and 12th in digs per set. 

The Eagles are currently 5-4 in the OVC, putting them in sixth place. The Eagles had 153 first place votes to win the OVC in the preseason poll that was released back in August. 

The Eagles are coming off a split series against Little Rock. The Eagles are led offensively by Abby Hulsman. Hulsman ranks eighth in the OVC with 172 kills, averaging 2.97 per set. Fellow Eagle Maycie Welborn has 198 kills on the season. 

Bridget Bessler currently leads the OVC in assists with an average of 9.75 per set. 

The first match on Thursday will start at 6 p.m. and the second one on Friday will begin at 5:00 p.m. 

Autumn Schulz can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected]