The student news site of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.

The Daily Eastern News

The student news site of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.

The Daily Eastern News

The student news site of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.

The Daily Eastern News

Senior libero/defensive specialist Christina Martinez Mundo smiles while Head Coach Sara Thomas speaks on each of the seniors skills and impact on the team during the press conference.

Martinez Mundo announces departure from EIU

Zaria Flippin, Sports Editor December 8, 2023

Senior libero/defensive specialist Christina Martinez Mundo announced she will be transferring to the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana to play with the Fighting Illini volleyball team. Martinez...

Head Volleyball Coach Sara Thomas huddles with the team during the third and last set of the Panthers first NCAA tournament appearance since 2001. The Panthers season score ends at 28-5.

EIU Volleyball’s memorable 2023 season

Cameron Thomas, Sports Reporter December 5, 2023

Despite the loss in the first round of the NCAA tournament against the Marquette Golden Eagles, the Panthers had a historic 2023 season. Eastern won the Ohio Valley Conference regular season championship...

Senior libero/defensive specialist Christina Martinez Mundo smiles while Head Coach Sara Thomas speaks on each of the seniors skills and impact on the team during the press conference.

Panthers of the Week: Jordan Booker, Christina Martinez Mundo

Zaria Flippin, Sports Editor December 3, 2023

The male Panther of the Week is going to Jordan “Tiger” Booker from the men’s basketball team. The senior guard from Chicago scored 20 points against the number one ranked Kansas Jayhawks on Tuesday...

Head Volleyball Coach Sara Thomas speaks to each of her seniors impact on her and the team for this season during the after-game press conference for their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2001. Thomas said she will sad to see some players who have been with her since she started coaching at Eastern leave this year.

EIU eliminated from NCAA tournament

Zaria Flippin, Sports Editor November 30, 2023

The Golden Eagles went on a 10-2 run to close out the third and final set of the match to knock off the Panthers in their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 22 years on Thursday evening in Lafayette,...

Senior Christina Martinez Mundo (4) pets Bear the dog before starting their game vs. Valparaiso Friday night in Lantz Arena.

Martinez Mundo’s impact on EIU Volleyball

Aidan Cusack, Sports Reporter November 29, 2023

A great libero can turn a struggling program into a winning program instantly. The role the libero plays is vital to team success; they coordinate the defense and defend most offensive shots. Panther...

The EIU volleyball team celebrate their 3-2 win at their home game against the Valparaiso Beacons Friday night in Lantz Arena.

NCAA Tournament preview: EIU versus Marquette

Zaria Flippin, Sports Editor November 29, 2023

For the first time since 2001, the Panthers will compete in the NCAA Volleyball Tournament. As shown on the NCAA Championship selection show, Eastern will face a sixth seeded Marquette team on Thursday...

Head Coach Sara Thomas, instructs volleyball players during practice on Wednesday afternoon at Lantz Arena. The team will play in the EIU Panther Classic against University of Louisiana Monroe, Akron University and Valparaiso University.

Panthers of the Week: Chris Wilkerson, Sara Thomas

Zaria Flippin, Sports Editor November 26, 2023

The male Panther of the Week is going to Chris Wilkerson from the football team. Wilkerson, who is in his second year in the head coaching position for Eastern’s football team, won Coach of the Year...

Easterns volleyball team celebrate their 3-0 win against the University of Missouri Thursday night.

EIU Volleyball clinches NCAA Tournament spot

Zaria Flippin and Maurice Phipps November 22, 2023

2001 was the last time the Panthers went dancing in the NCAA Tournament. 22 years later, after sweeping the Southeast Missouri Redhawks 3-0 on Wednesday evening in Grongier Arena, Eastern won the Ohio...

From left, sophomore setter Catalina Rochaix and senior outside hitter Giovana Larregui López celebrate after scoring a point during the volleyball against Morehead State Thursday evening at Lantz Arena. Rochaix led the team with 34 assists and had two digs. López led the Panthers with 13 kills and 15 points.

EIU Volleyball advances to semifinals after 3-0 victory

Maurice Phipps, Sports Reporter November 20, 2023

Eastern’s volleyball team had a dominant victory over the eight seeded Little Rock Trojans in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament. The victory would start off with the Panthers...

Panthers of the Week: Ella Collins and Corey Sawyer Jr.

Panthers of the Week: Ella Collins, Corey Sawyer Jr.

Zaria Flippin, Sports Editor November 19, 2023

The female Panther of the Week is going to Ella Collins from the volleyball team. The senior outside hitter from Lake Mills, WI recorded a career-high 28 kills against the Western Illinois Leathernecks...

Senior outside hitter Giovana Larregui Lopez serves the ball over the net for the Panthers against their game vs. Valparaiso. The Panthers won 3-2 against the Beacons Friday night in Lantz Arena.

EIU Volleyball seniors reflect on regular season, hosting OVC tournament

Aidan Cusack and Cameron Thomas November 17, 2023

Eastern’s volleyball team celebrated senior night at their final game of the season. The seniors got a little extra volleyball in their last game as the match went into the fifth set as the Panthers...

Defensive specialist/libero Christina Martinez Mundo (4), bumps the ball during their game vs. Missouri State. The Panthers won 3-0 against the Tigers.

Panthers of the Week: Christina Martinez Mundo, Chad Smith

Zaria Flippin, Sports Editor November 5, 2023

The female Panther of the Week is going to Christina Martinez Mundo from the volleyball team. The senior libero/defensive specialist from San Juan, Puerto Rico helped the Panthers sweep the Little Rock...

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