Issue date: 10/3/05 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Eric Hiltner/The Daily Eastern News Junior outside hitter Kara Sorenson spikes the ball past EKU junior outside hitter Jessica Sabath during the Panthers´ 3-1 win Saturday at Lantz Arena. Sorenson had a career-high 17 kills and 4 block assists in front of Eastern´s largest home attendance - 664.

Junior outside hitter Kara Sorenson had a career-high 17 kills and three Panthers recorded at least 20 digs to help them complete a perfect weekend by defeating Eastern Kentucky 3-1 on Saturday.

The Panthers defeated Morehead State 3-0 on Friday.

The Panthers (8-4, 4-0) are one of two teams who remain unbeaten in the Ohio Valley Conference. Eastern's largest home crowd of the season (664) was on hand to witness the match.

"Everybody's really excited," said Sorenson. "Last year, EKU's crowd tore us apart. The crowd was awesome (Saturday). They got us more excited."

The excitement is understandable. Eastern Kentucky (11-5, 3-1) was the only team to beat the Panthers in OVC play in 2004. The two teams met in the finals of the OVC Tournament, and the EKU victory cost the Panthers a NCAA Tournament berth.

"It is falling into place," said head coach Lori Bennett. "The thing that we've been focused on from the beginning is getting better every day regardless of what is going on.

"The kids wanted this match today more than anything."

The beginning of the match did not go the way Eastern wanted.

The Panthers played tentatively and committed several unforced mistakes that spotted the Colonels a 10-3 early lead.

Bennett called a timeout as the Panthers tried to regroup.

Sorenson was the key to a 7-1 run that pulled Eastern to within one. She had her first three kills of the match in the run.

The two teams played close the rest of the way, but the Panthers fell short and dropped game one 30-28.

Eastern Kentucky began the second game strong leading 10-5, and it looked like the Panthers would head into game three needing a win to keep the match going.

A Panthers' rally gave them their first tie of the match at 17, and they took their first lead at 23-22.

Continued...

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