CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Illinois proved Thursday night that its earlier volleyball victory over Southeast Missouri State University was no fluke.

And in the process, the Lady Panthers virtually ended all hopes the Otahkians have of winning a sixth consecutive Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championship.

EIU claimed a 15-5, 4-15, 15-13, 15-10 victory in front of nearly 350 fans at Lantz Gym. On Sept. 26 in Cape Girardeau, the Lady Panthers rolled past the Otahkians in three games.

The Lady Panthers, who lead the OVC, are now 17-4 overall and 12-0 in league play. Southeast, which had an 11-match winning streak snapped, fell to 17-8 overall, 9-3 in the league.

Both teams still have six OVC matches remaining, but EIU would have to lose four of the six while Southeast would have to win all six in order for the Otahkians to have a shot at another conference championship.

Meleah Cutler and Sherry Austin both had 15 kills for the Lady Panthers, who were picked only sixth in the OVC's preseason poll.

Jackie Derwort and Krista Haukap both had 15 kills for the Otahkians while Angie Aschoff added 11. Derwort had 19 digs, followed by Amy Henken and Krista Haukap with 16 each. Henken dished out 46 assists.

After the teams split the first two games, the Otahkians opened up a 4-0 lead in the third game and Southeast appeared to be in total control at 13-8. But EIU reeled off the final seven points to prevail.