COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL: SEMO SOLID AS OVC VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT NEARS

On paper, it looks like Southeast Missouri State University's volleyball team should roll during the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament that it will host this weekend.

But Otahkian coach Cindy Gannon emphasizes that her squad will be taking nothing for granted and it will definitely not overlook anybody.

"As far as I'm concerned, it's a brand new season. Everybody starts out 0-0," said Gannon. "What we did during the (regular) season doesn't matter. We have to win two matches to get to the NCAAs."

And the Otahkians will certainly be heavily favored to earn the OVC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year when the league tourney is held Friday and Saturday at Houck Field House.

The Otahkians earned the No. 1 seed for the six-team affair by virtue of rolling through the regular season with a 16-0 OVC record to capture their eighth conference championship in the past 10 years.

"I can't say enough about my team and what they've done this year," said Gannon, whose squad has a 20-8 overall record. "I don't care what conference you're in, to go through the season undefeated is a tough thing to do."

Surprising Tennessee-Martin (20-5 overall, 13-3 OVC) is the No. 2 seed and, like Southeast, has a first-round bye into the semifinals. The Skyhawks were picked to finish just seventh in the nine-team league but wound up a solid second.

In Friday's first-round matches, third-seeded Eastern Illinois (17-12, 11-5) plays No. 6 Murray State (10-15, 8-8) at 10 a.m. and No. 4 Austin Peay (17-14, 8-8) faces No. 5 Morehead State (19-11, 8-8) at 1 p.m.

The semifinals will also be Friday, with Tennessee-Martin playing the Eastern Illinois-Murray State winner at 4 p.m. and Southeast taking on the Austin Peay-Morehead State winner at 7 p.m.

Saturday's championship match will be at 2 p.m., with the winner moving on to the NCAA tourney.

"It should be a very good tournament and we are excited about hosting," said Gannon, whose squad has won 30 straight matches played at Houck Field House. "I feel like Houck is very intimidating (for the opposition). We usually have a good crowd and our kids are comfortable there."

As expected, the Otahkians were led during the regular season by their three seniors: Krista Haukap, Lea Beckemeyer and Rachelle Knapp.

Haukap -- Southeast's career kills leader -- has been an all-OVC selection the past three years, earning first-team honors last season and second-team accolades the previous two years. She is a lock to make the first team again this season when the league's honors banquet is held tonight in Cape Girardeau.

Beckemeyer made the all-OVC second team last year, when she was named the league tournament MVP, and she is also certain to be awarded first-team honors tonight.

Haukap and Beckemeyer, who figure to be the two leading candidates for the OVC Player of the Year award that will be announced tonight, rank one-two in the conference in kills, Haukap with 490 and Beckemeyer with 481. They also are among the OVC dig leaders, Haukap with 347 and Beckemeyer with 340.

"My two outside hitters make this team work," said Gannon of Haukap and Beckemeyer. "They are both having tremendous seasons."

Knapp has also been solid, ranking third on the squad with 257 kills and first in total blocks with 67.

"Those three seniors have really led us," Gannon said.

Sophomore Emily Johnson and junior Lori Lange have also been solid offensive contributors, with 114 and 107 kills, respectively. Johnson, with 52 blocks, ranks among the OVC's leaders in blocks per game.

One of the big keys to the season has been the play of freshman setter Emily Scannell, who leads the OVC and ranks seventh nationally in assists with 1,255 (14.3 per game).

"I haven't relied on a freshman setter in 10 years," said Gannon with a smile. "Emily has come through for us, and the people up front have helped her out."

Another freshman, Suzanne Gundlach, has contributed off the bench defensively, ranking fourth on the squad in digs with 220.

But for all of the Otahkians' glowing statistics -- and despite the fact only three OVC teams (Eastern Illinois, Austin Peay and Tennessee Tech) won a game against them during the regular season -- Gannon still believes they could be tested this weekend.

"A lot of people have said we haven't had much of a challenge, but even when we've beaten some people in three (games), we've been challenged," she said. "There is a lot of talent in the conference, but there's a lot of youth. Now everybody has had a whole season to prepare for this."

OVC VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT

(at Houck Field House)

Friday's Matches

10 a.m. -- Eastern Ill. vs. Murray St.

1 p.m. -- Austin Peay vs. Morehead St.

4 p.m. -- UT-Martin vs. 10 a.m. winner

7 p.m. -- SE Missouri vs. 1 p.m. winner

Saturday's Match

2 p.m. -- Championship