ST. DAVIDS, Pa.--Eastern University Athletics recently unveiled a new Final Four banner in the gymnasium to commemorate last year's historic volleyball run. This evening, Coach Birtwistle and his staff unveiled the 2012 version of the Eagles to a home crowd for the first time. Though many of the faces have changed, the result was essentially the same as the No. 19 Eagles blasted their way past Wilkes in a quick three-set match.

The Colonels (4-10, 1-1 Freedom), who won their conference opener in five sets at Misericordia, battled on defense but were no match for a potent and balanced Eastern attack. The Eagles recorded a .419 hitting percentage, and held the Colonels to .043 for the match. Keaby Benak registered 11 kills on only 17 attempts to lead six Eastern hitters with five or more kills. Katrina Pisch hit .333 for the match, the lowest hitting percentage of the six hitters.

Benak hit .588, and first-year middle hitter Kaitlyn Gochenauer put down five kills on seven swings for a .714 percentage. Erin Hillman (nine kills, .389) Rachel Wenger (six kills, .429) and Lauren Sproles (eight kills, .381). Each put up solid hitting numbers in support of setters Amy Guarino (14 assists) and Rikki Schlager (21 assists). Senior libero Kelly Groff recorded 17 digs in the win.

Casey Bohan led Wilkes with ten kills and was a presence at the net, but when the junior middle hitter went to the back row, the Eastern offense feasted against the undersized Wilkes block.

Eastern hosts Neumann University on Friday night and will play Richard Stockton and Moravian at home on Saturday.