Trojans come up short in five-set thriller with EIU

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A chance to earn a split with Eastern Illinois and pull back into a second-place tie with the visiting Panthers slipped away from Little Rock on Saturday, as EIU escaped with a sweep of the series and a 3-2 win at the Jack Stephens Center. The Trojans fell by scores of 11-25, 25-19, 23-25, 28-26, and 15-10.
 
Instead, the Trojans fell to 11-11 overall and 6-4 in Ohio Valley Conference play, sliding into a fourth-place tie with Tennessee Tech. Little Rock welcomes Eastern Illinois (14-6, 8-2) firms its grip on second place.
 
THEY SAID IT
"We hit well and did the little things well for the majority of the match. We just didn't get the crucial points when we needed them most. Jaycee and Vivian had great games for the second day in a row, and Margaritha really picked it up." – Little Rock head coach Van Compton
 
OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Kills – Vivian Lucumi (16), Sophia Garrido (11), Bella Cherry (11), Jaycee Kennedy (10), Crismeyli Rodriguez (10)
Attack % – Kennedy (.400), Lucumi (.394), Margaritha (.385), Garrido (.320) 
Assists – Kaylee Smith (32), Dariana Valencia (22)
Points – Lucumi (19.0), Cherry (13.0), Rodriguez (12.5), Garrido (12.0)
 
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
Digs – Andrea Roman (28), Rodriguez (14), Smith (12), Valencia (11), Cherry (10)
Blocks – Margaritha (6), Lucumi (5), Kennedy (3), Rodriguez (3)
 
NEXT GAME
Little Rock will host OVC leader Morehead State next Friday and Saturday at the Jack Stephens Center. The Eagles will come to Little Rock sporting a perfect 10-0 mark in conference play.