The EIU volleyball team closed out their weekend with 2 wins against Lindenwood University, where they played at the Gardella Family Volleyball Court.
Although EIU won the game 3-1 (25-18, 25-21, 23-25, 25-19) just like Friday, the intensity and energy that they brought to the court was different.
“I think we just came out today with a lot of fire and a lot of grit, and we played the way that we know how to play, and that’s clean, simple, easy volleyball,” senior outside hitter Lilli Amettis said. “We came out, and that’s what we had to do today.”
This intensity started early and went throughout all four sets, EIU started off with 17 kills to Lindenwood’s 12 to finish the first set.
Sophomore outside hitter Katie Kopshever had 4 kills, sophomore outside hitter Destiny Walker and senior outside hitter Tori Mohesky had 3 kills each, to which their attacks helped guide the team to victory in the first set.
Throughout the sets, tensions began to form between the coaches, players, and officials when it came to some calls that were being made.
There were back to back challenges called for both teams in the second and third set, to which it caused some talking, and questioning with the officials.
After receiving the final decision of a call, some of the fans, family and friends, voiced their opinions from the stands.
With having multiple challenges from both sides where some were won and overturned while others were unsuccessful, it created an even more competitive atmosphere for the athletes.
EIU overpowered the 2nd set with a hitting percentage 0.258 over Lindenwood’s 0.063.
While in the third set Lindenwood’s hitting percentage was 0.314 and EIU’s was 0.136.
The back and forth environment created an ecstatic atmosphere for the players.
The play for the last point would have been a point for EIU but the official from above gave the point to Lindenwood due to a violation on EIU. This resulted in Lindenwood winning the 3rd set.
When a penalty was called on EIU, coach Millar challenged it, but later understood what the problem was.
“I’m trying to be politically correct here.[The] referees had a tough night tonight. That’s pretty politically correct,” Millar said. “What happened was no one informed me I was out of challenges. And the referee called a net on us, which there was no net. I mean, it was obvious that there was no net and he was even apologizing. But since I had no challenges, he had no interest in reversing the call. And there was nothing I could do at that point, except not like what was going on.”
Although the third set didn’t end up how EIU expected, they were able to continue to play their game with the same tenacity and chemistry.
In the 4th and final set EIU came out on top with a score of 25-19. EIU went on a 10-5 run to further separate themselves from Lindenwood. At this point in the match the team matched the crowd’s energy.
“Just the excitement from the crowd, the fans, and then all of us, we were all so excited and tuned into today’s game, “Ammetis said. “I feel like we had a lot of heart and a lot of grit for today, and all the fans were right there with us, so it just made the environment so much better.”
The last two points to win the game were delivered with back to back kills from Katie Kopshever.
In the last set Lilli Amettis delivered five kills while Katie Kopshever delivered four kills to help their team finish it out.
Sophomore libero Ariadna Pereles finished the night as the leader in digs from both teams finishing with 18.
With EIU getting the win they still faced getting the job considering they encountered some difficulties throughout the process.
Ammettis thought there were some bad calls, but the bad calls couldn’t stop them.
“We can’t control the calls that the refs are making. It was very obvious that the refs weren’t on our side this weekend,” Ammettis said. “But we know how to play, and we know what was right and what was wrong, what happened, and what didn’t happen, so we just need to focus on our side and focus on what we can do to improve the next play and have an answer for the call that went wrong.”
EIU was able to continue to play good volleyball regardless of the circumstances and it showed.
The last set they won by the biggest margins which was 25-19.
“Even when they tried to push us and get back into the match in that fourth set, once we hit 20, the girls just kind of stepped on the accelerator and the match was over,” coach Millar said.
As EIU wraps up this weekend they are set to prepare for their next double header away against Southern Indiana next weekend.
Morgan Gillespie can be reached at 581-2812 or at mhgillespie@eiu.edu.
