The whistle sounded, confetti fell and Eastern Illinois volleyball became the Ohio Valley Conference champions for the second time in the last three years.
Eastern defeated Morehead State Tuesday evening at Gardella Family Court 3-0 (25-19, 25-14, 25-21) to win the OVC volleyball championship and move on to the NCAA tournament.
The Panthers (24-7, 15-3) were dominant through the first two sets of the match. The third set was a hard-fought victory that featured nine ties and three lead changes.
The match was won in large part from a standout performance from senior outside hitter Lilli Amettis, who walked away with the OVC tournament’s most valuable player award and a spot on the OVC all-tournament team.
“I’m on an all-time high right now,” Amettis said. “This was everything we worked for. Everything went to plan, and it all just happened exactly how we needed it to.”
Amettis got a major increase in playing time in late October and elevated her play, earning her a spot on the All-OVC second team. She was once again able to elevate her play in the conference tournament to win MVP and lead the team to the NCAA tournament.
She credits the change in the level of her play to her mindset, confidence, her willingness to do whatever it takes and a lot of caffeine.
Amettis wasn’t the only player who stepped up big in the tournament. Senior setter Catalina Rochaix and senior middle blocker Emma Schroeder also made the all-tournament team.
Schroeder anchored the defense and made her biggest impact in the first and second round, putting up 18 kills and 17 total blocks.
“I have no words,” Schroeder said. “I say everything happens for a reason and God puts you where you’re supposed to be, and he put me where I’m supposed to be.”
The championship was Schroeder and the rest of the seniors’ last game at home for their careers.
Rochaix had 40 assists and 10 digs in the three-set match, another day at the office for her as she averaged nearly 11 assists per set on the season.
“We trust [each other],” Rochaix said. “We trust the coaching staff [and] the scouting. We knew we were going to play hard and try to win this game.”
Even though she didn’t make the OVC all-tournament team, sophomore outside hitter Destiny Walker brought the energy on the attack in the tournament, averaging 16 kills a game.
She was able to score 14 kills and eight digs in the three-set match and was a huge factor in the Panther’s championship success.
“We went to the floor and gave everything we had,” Walker said. “That’s why the score was how it was.”
The team was led by OVC coach of the year Ryan Millar, who helped lead the team to a championship in just his first year as head coach.
“This team was never about me,” Millar said. “I’m just the guy playing chess trying to get the pieces in the right spot. I can do that all I want, but without the girls doing what they do, nothing happens.
The team will now move on to the NCAA tournament starting in December.
The NCAA tournament selection show will be held on November 30 at 6 p.m.
The first round of the tournament will start on Dec. 4.
Aaron Coffin can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected]
