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MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Visiting Eastern Illinois used stout defense to disrupt the Morehead State volleyball team's offensive game plan Friday night as the Panthers handed the Eagles their first Ohio Valley Conference loss of the 2011 season, 3-0, at Wetherby Gym.
EIU raced past the Eagles 25-16 in the opening set by limiting MSU to an -.027 attack effort, and the Panthers held off MSU 25-22 in the second and third sets to improve to 9-17 overall and 6-9 in the league. MSU saw its 22-match OVC winning string halted and fell to 13-1 in the conference and 18-6 overall.
EIU registered 16 team blocks and held the Eagles to a season-low .070 attack percentage. Each team totaled 35 kills, but the Panthers committed just 16 miscues, while MSU finished with 27 attack mistakes.
Redshirt freshman Laura McDermott managed to hit .261 to pace the Eagles while collecting 11 kills and three blocks. Redshirt senior Emma Keough had seven kills, hit .286, and totaled two blocks. She needs just 14 more block assists to break the MSU career record of 350.
EIU's Alison Berens chalked up 10 total blocks, while Stephanie Arnold had five, including four solo stuffs. Reynae Hutchinson and Emily Franklin each had team-best 10-kill nights.
The Eagles still won the dig battle, collecting 47 scoops to the Panthers' 42. Sophomore libero Leslie Schellhaas led all players with 16 digs.
Morehead State hosts SIU Edwardsville on Saturday at 2 p.m. Live stats will be available on
www.MSUEagles.com and live video will be available through
www.OVCSports.TV.
