GREENVILLE, Ill. – The Spalding University lost in for sets to the SLIAC leading Greenville Panthers, 3-1 (25-21, 25-22, 18-25, 25-16).

THE BASICS
FINAL: Greenville def. Spalding, 3-1
LOCATION: H.J. Long Gymnasium; Greenville, Ill.
RECORDS: Spalding (9-15; 9-6) Greenville (13-6; 9-0)

THE STARTERS
SPALDING:  5 – Jill Dunagan, 6 – Jessica Diehl, 7 – Erin Downs, 16 – Ashley Chase, 30 – Kaitlin Hall, 33 – Victoria Heitzman

GREENVILLE: 1 – Savannah Sells, 5 – Kirsten Laune, 6 – Allyson Mitchell, 7 – Sarah Watts, 11 – Riley Hannula, 17 – Sierah Ruffner

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Spalding led early taking a 3-1 lead to start the match, but the Panthers scored three straight points to take a 4-3 lead. SU tied the set at 16-16 following an Erin Downs kill, but Greenville outscored Spalding 9-5 down the stretch to take the first set, 25-21.

- Again, the Golden Eagles jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the second set. Greenville closed the gap and the two teams played to a 17-17 gridlock. The Panthers scored three unanswered points to take a 20-17 lead. SU got within one point at 22-21 following a Cayla Hoehler kill, but the Panthers went on to win, 25-22.

- The Golden Eagles led wire to wire to take the third set. An Ashley Chase kill helped Spalding push their margin to six points, and SU cruised taking the third set 25-18.

- SU led the fourth set 11-10 following a Downs kill and Greenville attack error. The Panthers scored three straight points to take a two point lead, and outscored the Eagles 15-5 over the final half of the set to take the match, 3-1.

KEY STATS
- Erin Downs' three block assists against Greenville moved her into first in the SLIAC with 48 block assists on the season. Downs also leads the conference in total blocks with 77 on the year.

- Jessica Diehl finished with a match-high .524 hitting percentage, tallying 13 kills on 21 total attacks and two errors. Diehl currently ranks second in the SLIAC in hitting percentage (.354).

- Ashley Chase tallied 12 kills, her second highest total of season.

UP NEXT
The Golden Eagles will have a week off before hosting MacMurray at Derek Smith Gymnasium Friday, October 16 at 8:00 p.m. EST.