CHARLESTON, Ill. – Senior Liz Guard tallied a match-high 17 kills and sophomore Amy Arlinghaus 16, but it was not enough as the Eastern Kentucky volleyball team fell to Eastern Illinois 3-1 (28-30, 30-28, 30-23, 30-27) on Saturday afternoon, in a rematch of the 2004 OVC title game, at Lantz Arena.

Sophomore Shelly George added 16 kills, and sophomore Brittany Nobilio recorded a match-high 29 digs for the Colonels (11-5, 3-1) who dropped an OVC match for the first time since a 3-1 loss to Jacksonville State on October 30, 2004.

EKU took control early in game one, jumping to leads of 10-3 and 20-14 behind four kills from George and three from Guard. The Panthers (8-4, 4-0) stormed back to tie the score at 26 on a kill from senior Jessica Ackerman. EKU responded with a George kill and a service ace from sophomore Vannessa Jones, forcing the Panthers to call timeout, and a few plays later EKU secured the victory on another George kill.

The Colonels led most of game two until EIU took the lead at 23-22 on a block from Maren Crabtree and Kera Griffin. EKU briefly retook the lead at 25-24 on a block from George and junior Kasha Brozek, but it was not enough as the Panthers went on to the two-point victory to tie the match at a game apiece.

EIU built on the game two victory, hitting .375 and holding EKU to a .225 attack percentage on its way to the seven-point victory in game three.

The Colonels took an early lead in game four, but an 8-2 run gave the Panthers a 20-15 lead. EKU rallied to tie the score at 24 on a Crabtree handling error but EIU scored the next three points and went on to the three-point victory and its sixth straight win.

The Colonels are back in action Friday Oct. 7, hosting Tennessee-Martin at 7 p.m.