CHARLESTON, Ill. – A year after hoisting the Ohio Valley Conference championship trophy, Lindenwood women’s volleyball (11-16, 7-11 OVC) was sent packing in the first round by the number one seeded Eastern Illinois Panthers (22-7, 15-3 OVC) in a five set thriller (25-21, 21-25, 20-25, 25-23, 7-15).
Lindenwood opened strong, jumping ahead 6-1 in the first set before Eastern closed the gap to one at 16-15. The Lions answered with a 7-1 run to pull away and claim the set 25-21, highlighted by three solo blocks from Kylee Richey.
The Panthers responded in the second set. After Lindenwood took a 4-1 lead, Eastern used a 9-5 run to take a 10-9 lead before going on a 7-2 run to widen the margin and cruise to a 25-21 win, drawing even in the match. Ashley Geluck tallied four kills in the frame, bringing her total to nine on a .533 hitting percentage.
Eastern Illinois kept rolling in the third, using a 10-3 surge to go up 15-8 and holding off Lindenwood’s late push for a 25-20 victory.
With their season on the line, the Lions answered in the fourth. After trailing 9-6 and 10-7, they chipped away with a pair of 3-0 runs to take a 16-14 lead. The teams traded points until a kill by Autumn Bax and an ace from Dana Grib capped a 4-0 Lindenwood run, pushing the Lions ahead 22-18. Eastern Illinois closed the gap to 23-22, but Kylie Richey sealed the set with a kill to give Lindenwood a 25-23 win.
Tied 2-2, Eastern used a crucial 5-1 run to take a 10-4 lead, and they wouldn’t look back as they cruised to a 15-7 set five win and a match advancing them to the OVC semifinals and sending Lindenwood home disappointed.
Bax led LU with 12 kills, while Geluck and Emma Johnson added 11 each. Richey contributed seven kills and a career-high nine blocks, including six solos. Lindenwood hit .110 as a team; EIU finished at .184.
Setter Amelia Thro posted her fourth double-double of the season with 37 assists and 11 digs. Libero Dana Grib added 14 digs and six assists.
Lindenwood’s season comes to an end, a season that left a lot on the table, but with plenty of returners for next year, the Lions will look to retool and reclaim their crown atop the OVC.
