CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois earns their second series sweep of the season after a 3-0 win over WIU. EIU has now won six out of their last seven games.The Panthers move to 8-15 (7-5 OVC), while the Leathernecks fall to 3-19 (3-9 OVC). EIU's offense led the way with 40 kills and .230 hitting percentage. Katie Kopshever recorded her sixth double-double of the season, tallying 18 kills & 10 digs 

EIU wasted no time setting the tone with three multiple-point scoring runs to hold a 15-10 advantage. The Panthers used their offensive surge to hold the Leathernecks at arm's length the rest of the way. EIU closed the set, scoring four of the last five points, including two service aces from Alanys Nieves. Eastern Illinois recorded six aces on the night. The Panthers finished set with a match-high .293 hitting percentage.  

Similar to Thursday, set two was tightly contested until EIU capitalized on three WIU miscues to hold a 16-12 lead. The Panthers remained out in front with a four-point lead paced by Kaeden Foxx and Kopshever. Foxx recorded three of her seven kills in the set, while Kopshever added five. After the Panthers reached set point, the Leathernecks mounted a 3-0 run to trim the deficit to two points at 24-22. However, Eastern Illinois' defense remained strong, finishing the set with a block by Abana Teran and Hannah Hawkins. EIU finished the night with 10 team blocks, led by three Panthers who each recorded four. 

WIU controlled the early stages of the final set, but EIU shifted the momentum by scoring six of seven points surrounding the media timeout. With a 17-13 lead, the EIU continued to attack, extending the advantage to 21-16. With the finish line in sight, WIU had a strong response, rattling off five consecutive points to pull within one at 23-22. After their set point was turned away, WIU knotted the match at 24 apiece. Then, EIU delivered the final blow, with Kopshever smashing a kill from the back row. The Leathernecks' 20th attack error of the night ultimately handed the Panthers match point.  

The Panthers defense kept WIU at bay, with Alana Guibert, Emma Hanson, and Foxx each tallying four blocks. EIU also recorded 50 digs, led by Ariadna Pereles' match-high 18.
 

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LINDENWOOD 3, UT WARTIN 1
MARTIN, Tenn. - The Lindenwood women's volleyball team (21-3, 11-1 OVC) extended their current win streak to six matches with a 3-1 win over UT Martin (10-15, 5-9 OVC) on Friday evening, moving back into a tie for first place in the conference standings.

After UT Martin scored six straight points to open an 11-6 lead in the opening set, the Lions were able to cut the deficit to one with a 4-0 run later in the set but were unable to complete the rally, suffering a 25-19 defeat. Ashley Geluck led Lindenwood with four kills in the frame.

The Lions corrected course in set two, sprinting out to a 15-5 lead at the media timeout and growing their lead to as many as 13 points in a comfortable 25-12 win. Lindenwood combined for five blocks in the frame. Autumn Bax led the Lions in scoring with four kills and a pair of blocks in the set.

Lindenwood kept it rolling in set three, pouncing out to a 10-2 lead before cruising to another 25-12 victory to take a lead in the match. As a team, the Lions registered 15 kills while committing just two attack errors in the frame while adding three service aces.

The Lions needed extra points in set four to finish the match, losing their grip on a five-point lead before closing the frame on a 3-0 run to claim a 26-24 win. Lauren Ortwerth led Lindenwood in the frame with five kills.

Three Lions finished with double digit kills for the second consecutive night, led by Susanna Beretti with 12 kills. She was joined by Autumn Bax with 11 terminations and Ortwerth with 10 kills.

Meanwhile, Ashley Geluck turned in another strong performance seven kills and a team-leading six blocks. Lauren Ortwerth also has a strong night at the net with a season-high five blocks.
 

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SIUE 3, MOREHEAD STATE 2
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - The SIUE women's volleyball team rallied from behind multiple times Friday night, using a strong final two sets to earn a 3-2 victory over Morehead State (21-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-19, 15-11) at home in First Community Arena. The win improves the Cougars to 5-6 in Ohio Valley Conference play.
 
After dropping the first and third sets, SIUE responded with its most efficient offensive stretches of the match when it mattered most, hitting .345 in the fourth set and .348 in the fifth to secure the comeback victory.
 
SIUE trailed 16-17 late in the fourth set, then closed the frame on a 9-2 run behind a balanced offensive attack to force the decisive fifth set. The teams remained tied at 10-10 in the final frame before the Cougars took control and closed the match on a 5-1 run.
 
Two kills from Kennedy Pike and another from Ally Hughes gave SIUE the edge before Kinley Quast sealed the comeback with a service ace on match point.
 
Pike led the Cougar offense with 14 kills on .345 hitting alongside seven digs and three blocks. Sophie Robinson recorded her first double-double of the season with 13 kills and 13 digs, while Hughes notched her third double-double of the year with a career-high 28 assists and 16 digs.
 
Defensively, Jehireh Williams tied a season high with six blocks, while Vienna Elliott added four of her own at the net.
 
Morehead State was led by Hollan Everett, who finished with 19 kills on 63 total attacks. Amelia Nott added 17 kills, while Ella Warrick contributed 16.
 

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SOUTHERN INDIANA 3, TENNESSEE STATE 0
NASHVILLE - University of Southern Indiana Volleyball dominate Tennessee State University on the road, sweeping the Tigers to move to 6-5 in Ohio Valley Conference play and 11-12 overall.
 
The Screaming Eagles ran away with the lead after 15 points, getting a dominant 10-point win in the opening set. Freshman Aubrey Fair led the USI scoring, tallying seven kills on one error, hitting .500. Sophomore setter Aysa Thomas dished out 14 assists and kept her offense at an efficient .231.
 
USI took another strong set, taking the lead after five points. Fair and senior Ashby Willis each added five kills in the set, directed by Thomas, who dished out another 12 assists to her offense. Senior right side Jillian Moonan tallied four kills on no errors, helping the Screaming Eagles to the most efficient hitting percentage of the match (.432).
 
Willis had her best set, landing six kills while remaining errorless to lead the team. Senior Aspen Jankowski recorded two aces and assisted the defense, picking up three digs. Junior libero Audrey Small picked up five digs, helping to keep the Tigers to their least efficient offensive set (.069).
 
For the match, OVC Setter of the Week Thomas marked a double-double with 37 assists and 12 digs. Willis (15) and Fair (14) led the point scoring, combining for 29 of the team's 52 kills. Moonan continued her consistent performance on the right side, marking her fourth game in a row with seven or more kills.