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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.

The Avengers

Sorenson, defense push Panthers past rival EKU

By: Marco Santana/ Staff Reporter

Posted: 10/3/05

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.

Mistakes by the Colonels and a service ace by senior outside hitter Jessica Ackerman helped the Panthers take a 27-25 lead.

A service error by Colonels' senior defensive specialist Libby Schleisman gave the Panthers a 30-28 game two victory.

"(In game two) we stepped up our communication and everyone did their part," said Ackerman, who finished the match with 16 kills. "People started talking and our passing was great. That helped (sophomore setter) Maren (Crabtree) with her sets."

Crabtree, who holds the school record for assists in a match, established a season high with 58. She recorded more than 50 assists and 20 digs for the second time in her career. That feat has only been accomplished 11 times in school history.

"She is doing a great job of moving the ball around and keeping us from being predictable," said Bennett.

The third game was a game of two halves. In the first half, neither team could pull away as there were five lead changes and nine ties in the match.

But the second half was all Panthers. The Colonels could only record two kills and the Panthers had seven to pull off the 30-23 win in game three.

Eastern Kentucky was in good shape in game four by jumping out to a 12-7 lead but the Panthers continued their season-long trend of starting slow and finishing strong.

"We're really good at just being patient," said Sorenson. "We started getting our things run and then we put it all together."

Eastern Illinois rebounded with a 13-3 run that gave them a 20-15 lead that they wouldn't relinquish.

Junior outside hitter Mary Welch joined Crabtree in recording a double-double. Welch finished with 10 digs and 12 kills as she was one of four players with double digits in kills.

"This is the best we've played," said Crabtree. "Everybody contributed."

Senior libero Heather Redenbo led the defense with 26 digs and senior defensive specialist Aja Kohlbecker recorded 24. Senior outside hitter Megan Kennedy finished with 12 kills and was second on the team with a .357 hitting percentage.