ALLENTOWN,Pa.-The Eastern University volleyball players found themselves in an early hole in their season opening match at Muhlenberg College. The host Mules scored the first three points of the match and never trailed on the way to taking the first set 25-19. Down a set, the No. 12 Eagles rallied to claim a 3-1 win.

"We stuck together when we were not playing our best volleyball," Head Coach Mark Birtwistle said of the match. "Our passing and defense came along as the match progressed."

The second set was not an easy one either. Muhlenberg jumped out to a 7-1 lead. The Eagles grabbed their first lead of any kind in the match at 12-11 in the middle of a five point run on the serve of freshman defensive specialist Alexis Harbold.

That lead, however, did not last, and the two teams were tied at 21-21 in the second set. Morgan Shemonski put the Eagles up with a side-out kill and Eastern was able to three of the final four points of the set to level the match at a set apiece. Shemonski and freshman middle hitter Michelle Paulsen combined on a pair of double blocks late in the set to help the Eagles grab enough momentum to claim the set.

Erin Hillman turned the match around in the third set. The senior outside hitter started the set with a kill and had seven of her match-high 16 kills as the Eagles cruised to a 25-16 win in the third set.

"Erin hit a great percentage and had 16 kills," Birtwistle commented, "but even more important, she got our team focus back where it needed to be. I think our senior leadership kept our team together when we were not at our best. It was really a struggle to find any quality rhythm, but to we did enough to get a few points ahead."

Hillman had six more kills in the final set to help the Eagles close out the match by a 25-19 fourth set score.

Birtwistle was pleased with the win, but also noted that there were many areas for improvement.

The Eagles (1-0) will travel back up the Northeast Extension of the PA Turnpike for a tournament at Moravian College this weekend. They will take on Ursinus at 4 on Friday afternoon.