Gamecocks sweep past Redhawks

~ Southeast was swept in the final and fell short of earning the NCAA bid.

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. -- Southeast Missouri State's surprising run in the Ohio Valley Conference volleyball tournament ended one victory short of an NCAA tournament berth.

The Redhawks, the last seed for the six-team event, had upset third-seeded Murray State and No. 2 Tennessee State in the opening two rounds.

But Saturday afternoon, top-seeded and host Jacksonville State continued its conference domination to win the title and the league's automatic NCAA berth.

JSU beat Southeast 30-25, 31-29, 30-24 in the championship match.

The Gamecocks (24-4) rolled through their 16-match OVC schedule without a loss, becoming just the seventh team in league history to do so.

Not only did the Gamecocks go undefeated in OVC play, they dropped only one game all year -- against Southeast during a 3-1 home victory on Nov. 11.

Jacksonville State won both of its tournament matches in three games.

Jessica Koeper and Karleigh DeLong led the Redhawks (16-18) with nine kills each.

Jamie Baumstark had 29 assists. Molly Davis led Southeast with 16 digs, Koeper had 14 and DeLong added 10.

Abby Breit led the Gamecocks with 19 kills. Five players finished with double figures in digs for Jacksonsville State, led by Brittney Whitten with 18.

Southeast seniors Koeper and Baumstark were named to the seven-player all-tourney team.

Jacksonville State had three all-tournament selections, led by MVP Emily Withers.