Box Score CHARLESTON, Ill. – SIUE volleyball's first Ohio Valley Conference road swing of the season ended Wednesday with a four-set loss at Eastern Illinois.
The Panthers, 7-9 overall and 1-2 in the OVC, defeated the Cougars 25-20, 25-15, 18-25, 25-12. SIUE Head Coach Leah Johnson said ball control was an issue for the Cougars.
"We were in system in set three," she said. "The other three sets we were spotty from a ball control standpoint."
SIUE, 8-10 overall and 0-3 in the OVC, welcome Tennessee State Saturday for a 1 p.m. match at the Vadalabene Center. It will be SIUE's home OVC opener.
Ashley Witt lifted the SIUE offense with 16 kills for the match. It was her fourth consecutive match of 10 or more kills and the 11th time this season she has hit double digit kills.
"This is one of the most efficient matches she has had this season," said Johnson. "She had a good service game as well.
Taylor Held, who hadn't played since the Indiana State match at the Cougar Classic, finished with 10 kills. It was the second time this season she has hit 10 or more kills in a match.
The Panthers, who were celebrating their OVC and season home opener, collected 53 kills and hit .358 as a team. Chelsea Lee led the way for EIU with 13 kills. Five different players for the Panthers hit better than .350 for the match.
Johnson said she expects her team to show up for practice the rest of this week hungry, be ready to get off to a good start in their next match, and set the tone for the home OVC opener.
