Abbott, Luehmann receive academic all-district honors

Southeast Missouri State sophomores Hayley Abbott and Courtney Luehmann have been named to the ESPN Academic All-District soccer second team. They are the soccer program's first multiple all-district honorees and the program's first all-district selections since 2007.

Abbott, who has started every game on defense since her freshman season, has compiled a cumulative grade-point average of 3.8 in sports management. She was first-team all-Ohio Valley Conference last year.

Luehmann, a Notre Dame Regional High School graduate who has started all 17 games this year, has a 3.76 GPA in occupational therapy. The midfielder is tied for second on the team with four goals.

Southeast will play Friday in the OVC tournament semifinals in Morehead, Ky. The second-seeded Redhawks earned a first-round bye for the six-team event.

Volleyball swept

The Southeast volleyball squad saw its already slim chances of qualifying for the six-team OVC tournament grow even slimmer Tuesday.

Host Eastern Illinois routed the Redhawks 25-12, 25-16, 25-14.

The Redhawks fell to 6-19 overall and 3-11 in OVC play as they remained tied for last in the 10-team conference.

Southeast trails sixth-place EIU and Tennessee State, both 6-8 in the OVC, by three games with four matches left.

The Redhawks, who have lost eight of nine and 13 of 15, were led by freshman Julie Shives with 20 assists and senior Kelly Benacka with 17 digs.

Southeast plays its final two home matches this weekend, at 7 p.m. Friday against Tennessee State and 5 p.m. Saturday against Austin Peay on Senior Day.

-- From staff reports