Spring Break
Panthers nearly upset Illinois
Marco Santana/ Staff Reporter
Issue date: 9/20/05 Section: Sports
The Panthers went to Champaign last weekend and split two matches, losing to Illinois (9-2) in five games and sweeping University of Illinois-Chicago (3-9).
The first game of the Illinois match served notice that Eastern wasn't going out quietly against a team that was just outside of the Top 25 in the most recent national poll.
With the game tied at 12, Illinois' senior outside hitter Rachel VanMeter, who is second in the nation in kills per game (6.13), tried to take control. She had four of her game-high eight kills in a stretch that saw Illinois expand its lead to 20-15.
But the Panthers (3-4) did not buckle. A 9-4 run tied it at 24 and ended on a kill by sophomore middle hitter Kera Griffin.
The game was tied at 27 when VanMeter served the ball into the net and Eastern scored the last three points to stun the crowd of 1,809 with a 30-27 win.
The win did more than wake the crowd.
"The win in game one gave us all the confidence in the world," said senior outside hitter Jessica Ackerman, who had a career-high 18 kills in the match.
"We were focused," said Eastern's head coach Lori Bennett. "We executed our game plan well, and we made adjustments as we needed to make them."
Illinois came back strong in game two. It was close early and there was a 10-10 tie before Illinois pulled away with a 10-1 run that helped them coast to a 30-19 game two victory.
In the early stages of game three, Panther errors helped the Illini keep it close. Four service errors, a ball-handling error and a bad set gave Illinois all six points in the stretch from a 6-6 tie to a 12-12 tie.
Illinois sophomore outside hitter Vicki Brown heated up and led the Illini to a 30-27 win.
In game four, the Panthers took an 8-7 lead and never trailed afterward.
The Illini made it tough on the Panthers. Eastern was cruising and led 26-19.
But Illinois pulled within one point, 28-27, before the Panthers could put it away 30-27.
The first game of the Illinois match served notice that Eastern wasn't going out quietly against a team that was just outside of the Top 25 in the most recent national poll.
With the game tied at 12, Illinois' senior outside hitter Rachel VanMeter, who is second in the nation in kills per game (6.13), tried to take control. She had four of her game-high eight kills in a stretch that saw Illinois expand its lead to 20-15.
But the Panthers (3-4) did not buckle. A 9-4 run tied it at 24 and ended on a kill by sophomore middle hitter Kera Griffin.
The game was tied at 27 when VanMeter served the ball into the net and Eastern scored the last three points to stun the crowd of 1,809 with a 30-27 win.
The win did more than wake the crowd.
"The win in game one gave us all the confidence in the world," said senior outside hitter Jessica Ackerman, who had a career-high 18 kills in the match.
"We were focused," said Eastern's head coach Lori Bennett. "We executed our game plan well, and we made adjustments as we needed to make them."
Illinois came back strong in game two. It was close early and there was a 10-10 tie before Illinois pulled away with a 10-1 run that helped them coast to a 30-19 game two victory.
In the early stages of game three, Panther errors helped the Illini keep it close. Four service errors, a ball-handling error and a bad set gave Illinois all six points in the stretch from a 6-6 tie to a 12-12 tie.
Illinois sophomore outside hitter Vicki Brown heated up and led the Illini to a 30-27 win.
In game four, the Panthers took an 8-7 lead and never trailed afterward.
The Illini made it tough on the Panthers. Eastern was cruising and led 26-19.
But Illinois pulled within one point, 28-27, before the Panthers could put it away 30-27.
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