Boxscore: PDF

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Prior to officially opening the 2010 campaign next weekend, the Eastern Illinois volleyball squad held a final preseason scrimmage on Saturday evening, as the Panthers entertained a small group of former EIU alumni, who put up a nice fight before falling to the current team in four sets (25-11, 23-25, 26-24, 25-22).

Fourteen members of the current Panther squad saw action, with senior outside hitter Kelsey Orr leading all players via 16 kills, off 37 attacks, hitting .243 on the night. She was just one dig shy of a double-double, as she upped nine.

Freshman outside hitter Reynae Hutchinson had a nice Lantz Arena debut, as the former Mattoon product chipped in 12 kills and upped eight digs. Fellow outside, senior Alex Zwettler, a Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference honoree, connected for 10 kills of her own and added eight digs.

Senior Erin Hake and sophomore Emily Franklin added eight and seven kills to the 62 total team put-a-ways, respectively. Franklin, a transfer from Stephen F. Austin, earned the best Panther hitting mark thanks to her .357 clip.

Defensively, junior libero Brittany Wallace led all players with 22 ups, with both Hake and Orr adding nine. Fellow junior, Chrissie Albers, was the starting setter in three of the four sets, as she dished out 36 total assists, while senior Kylie Cavanah added 14 in the opening frame.

Team-wise, the 2010 squad ended up out-blocking the alums, 10 to eight, with senior middle blocker Jorie Dieter leading all players at the net with four roofs, one solo and three assisted. Hake added two solo stops and an assisted block. Both squads nailed six aces, while the current Panther unit also notched 12 service errors. EIU out-hit the returning former players, .222 to .087.

The returning alumni were led by several former players from the last Panther squad to capture an Ohio Valley Conference championship, which occured back in 2004. Tonight's players included Shaina Boylan (2006-08), Kari Hauswirth (2005-06), Megan Kennedy (2002-05), Aja Kohbecker (2002-05), Heather Redenbo (2002-05), Lauren Sopcic (2005-08), Mary Welch (2003-06), Laura Welsh (2007-08), and Eliza Zwettler (2006-07), while current EIU Panther setters, Cavanahand Albers each shared quarterback duties for alumni squad.

Since the alumni squad did not wear numbered jerseys, only general offensive and defensive stats for the squad were kept. The alumni's left-side attack led the way with 25 kills, while the middle/slide option pounded out six kills. Defensively, a majority of the digs came via the middle back row with 22 ups, while 19 came from the right back corner.

The Panthers travel to Boston next Friday and Saturday to compete in the five-squad Harvard Tournament, with EIU set to battle east coast opponents Bryant, New Hampshire, Boston College, and Harvard.

… for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID