CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Jacksonville State volleyball team was unable to stop the best hitting team in the Ohio Valley Conference, falling to Eastern Illinois in straight sets inside Lantz Arena, Saturday afternoon
 
The top offensive attack in the league to start the season proved strong once again as EIU (7-9, 2-0 OVC) used a .288 attack percentage and 54 total kills to power past JSU (7-11, 0-2 OVC). During the match, EIU's senior libero Stephanie Wallace became the school's all-time career digs leader after entering the day four shy of the record.  
 
Sophomore Charis Ludtke's seven kills led the Gamecocks offensively, just ahead of senior Emily Rutherford's six. Freshman Kim Krutsinger contributed three kills on seven swings for a .429 kill percentage. Krutsinger also added four blocks across the net, one shy of Rutherford and freshman Mackenzie Rombach, who finished with five each.  
 
Momentum quickly shifted to the home squad in the first set as the Panthers built a 10-5 lead. Hitting .278 in the set, EIU extended that lead to double digits at 23-13. The final margin would remain the same with the Panthers taking the frame, 25-15.
 
JSU led by three early in the second, but a powerful 10-2 run by EIU gave way to a 14-9 advantage for the hosts. EIU maintained the advantage the remainder of the way for a 25-19 set win.
 
The Panthers closed out the match with an identical third set score, 25-19. The Panthers boasted their best hitting frame of the day with a .410 mark in the final set.
 
JSU will take a break from conference play on Friday, Oct. 2, to open its newly renovated Pete Mathews Coliseum against Jackson State. The Gamecocks will continue the weekend on Sunday, with a 2 p.m. OVC game against UT Martin. Admission is free to all home volleyball matches.