Eastern Illinois volleyball increased their record to 6-0 at home this season after taking the victory tonight against the UT Martin Skyhawks in three sets (25-20, 25-15, 25-21).
The Panther’s win tonight extended the team’s win streak to seven in a row. The win came in large part due to the teams serving tonight.
The team had 13 aces which were spread out between five players. Sophomore outside hitter Katie Kopshever led the team with five, two of which were back-to-back in the third set to take the lead.
“We really needed a run,” Kopshever said. “We were kind of tight there in the third set for a while and I think that small run [and] energy build up really helped us in the third.”
Also chipping in aces tonight were sophomore hitter Destiny Walker with three, graduate defensive specialist Laura Paniagua with three, sophomore libero Ariadna Pereles with one, and senior hitter Tori Mohesky with one.
“Serving and passing is one of our biggest focuses all the time in practice [and] every single game,” Mohesky said. “The fact that we could go out there tonight and do what we did serving is a huge factor of why we won the way that we did.”
Kopshever’s team leading five aces played a big role in the Panther’s victory tonight, but that’s not the only place she impacted the game.
Kopshever led the team in kills as well. She tallied up 13 kills and six digs. Following right behind her was Walker, who put up 11 kills and eight digs.
Walker is leading the team in kills per game this year but has been playing through a right shoulder injury.
“It’s still hurting her a little tiny bit, but nothing too bad,” head coach Ryan Millar said.
The team pulled away in the first two sets, going on an 11-2 run in the first set and a 10-1 run in the second set. This momentum didn’t seem to carry into the third set as the Skyhawks came out with more energy than the Panthers.
“I felt like we were a little flat energy wise,” said Millar. “Even when we were up by a couple points later in the set, it felt like the girls were a little flat.”
The Panthers were able to eventually pull away with the win, but it wasn’t without a fight. The third set featured eight ties and four lead changes.
The score was tied 20-20 when the team was able to come out of a Millar timeout and go on a 5-1 run.
The game winning run was featured with a kill by Walker, an ace by Mohesky, and a back-to-back kill and ace by Kopshever to end the game.
EIU is currently sitting in second place in the OVC with a 9-2 conference record. They are currently trailing 10-0 Morehead State for first place in the conference.
The team matches up with UT Martin again tomorrow for game two of the weekend doubleheader.
The game will be played at Gardella Family Court at 4 p.m. with a costume night theme.
Aaron Coffin can be reached at 581-2812 or at arcoffin@eiu.edu
