CHARLESTON, Ill. – IUPUI volleyball kicks off its season with three matches at the EIU Panther Invitational at Eastern Illinois on Friday (Aug. 27) and Saturday (Aug. 28).

All three matches for the Jags will be streamed on ESPN+ as IUPUI takes on Eastern Illinois, Chicago State and Bellarmine.

EIT PANTHER INVITATIONAL
Friday (Aug. 27)
at Eastern Illinois // 6 p.m. // ESPN+ // Live Stats

Saturday (Aug. 28)
vs. Chicago State // 11 a.m. // ESPN+ // Live Stats
vs. Bellarmine // 5 p.m. // ESPN+ // Live Stats

ABOUT IUPUI
The Jaguars bring back nine of the 10 players on last season's roster and head coach Lindsey Froehlich brought in four freshman and a transfer to bolster this season's squad.

Offensively, IUPUI returns two players that averaged over two kills per set last season. Allie Pogue finished last season with 2.85 kills per set, leading the team with 114 kills. Maddie Haines performed well in her first season as a Jaguar with 2.13 kills per set.

Back for her fifth season, Rhiannon Schuenemann led IUPUI with 3.38 digs per set. At the net, Emily Alan tallied 29 blocks in 12 matches as a freshman last season.  

ABOUT EASTERN ILLINOIS
Eastern Illinois is coming off of a season where the Panthers posted a 2-14 record, including finishing the season with four-straight 0-3 losses.

Danielle Allen is the leading offensive hitter to return for EIU, averaging 2.29 kills per set. On defense, sophomore Christine Martinez Mundo was tops in digs at 3.96.

IUPUI is 3-4 all-time against Eastern Illinois having one the last three matches against the Panthers. The last meeting between the two teams was back in 2012 with the Jags winning 3-1.

ABOUT CHICAGO STATE
Chicago State is looking to build off of a 1-9 campaign last season and will play Bellarmine before taking on IUPUI.

Yanlis Feliz returns after a strong season last year leading Chicago State with 3.73 kills per set. Berenice Almeyda was second on the team with 2.63 kills per set and a very efficient .424 hitting percentage.

On defense, Andrea Calderon averaged 4.33 digs per set in her first season as a Cougar. Feliz was second on the team in digs at 3.48 per set.

IUPUI has beaten Chicago State in 16 of the 17 meetings between the two squads. The Jags have won six-straight in the series with the last meeting coming in 2012.

ABOUT BELLARMINE
Entering its second season as a Division I program, Bellarmine posted a 4-13 record in its first year playing in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

Hannah Brown led the Knights with 2.40 kills per set and hit .238 a season ago. Sam Rickert guides the offense after averaging 8.61 assists per set last year.

Rickert is also the leading returning defender with 2.41 digs per set last year, while Brown is the leading returning presence at the net, posting 31 blocks last campaign.

IUPUI is 2-7 against Bellarmine all-time but have not played against the Knights since 1997.