"Sometimes you need something to shake things up." Eastern University Head Coach Mark Birtwistle would rather not have had his two-time Conference Player of the Year setter dealing with an injury, but in the end, the uncertainty that brought helped the 5th ranked Eastern University Eagles to deliver an efficient three set win at FDU-Florham on Wednesday.

With Horning's status uncertain, sophomore libero Kelly Groff was at the ready to take over setting duties at the start of the next set. Horning finished her day after the second set with 30 assists, and Groff ran the Eastern attack with good efficiency for the final set as the Eagles won 25-17, 25-14, 25-10.

Birtwistle was very pleased with his team's overall focus and with the play of middle hitter Mary Poole. Poole finished with 10 kills on 17 attempts. Eastern hit .365 for the match. That stat along with the absence of receiving errors is evidence of the Eastern focus in passing and defense. 

"They have a couple really nice outside hitters," Birtwistle said, "but we were able to keep them out of system for the most part." In addition to Poole's ten kill effort, Courtney Reinhold delivered another 14 kill and 16 dig evening. The junior All-American hit .387 with an ace.

Groff finished the evening with eight assists and 25 digs. The Eagles hope to return to full health for the weekend's MAC Crossover event at Lebanon Valley College. Eastern will take on the two finishers from the Commonwealth. They will play Elizabethtown College in the morning and the host Dutchmen in the afternoon.

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