Keaton helps Southeast volleyball to sweep of UTM

Claire Keaton had a solid freshman season for the Southeast Missouri State volleyball team last year.

She has taken her game to another level so far as a sophomore in 2008.

Keaton entered Tuesday's home match with Tennessee-Martin leading the Ohio Valley Conference in kills per game.

The St. Louis native added seven kills to her resume, part of a balanced attack that led the Redhawks to a 25-15, 25-21, 25-20 win.

Southeast improved to 4-5 overall and 2-1 in OVC play. UTM is 3-11 and 1-1.

"It was a good match for us," Keaton said.

Keaton ranked third on the 2007 Redhawks with 250 kills as they claimed a share of the OVC regular-season title.

This year, Keaton already has put down 123 kills, which is 52 more than any other Southeast player.

"She's done a great job," said junior Karleigh DeLong, who led Southeast in kills last year while earning first-team all-OVC honors. "She has really stepped up."

Keaton attributes her bump in production partly to improvement and partly to the injuries that forced DeLong and senior Aubrey Dondlinger -- second last year in kills -- to miss significant action.

"I've had to [pick up the slack], with the injuries and stuff," Keaton said. "It's tough with Karleigh and Aubrey out at the same time.

"I've improved a lot. Freshman year is always hard."

Keaton smiled when asked if she was surprised to be leading the OVC in kills per game entering Tuesday's match.

"A little bit," she said. "But I was determined."

Southeast coach Renata Nowacki credits Keaton's play for helping the Redhawks stay afloat during a time when four key players missed time due to injuries.

"I like her in this role as a go-to player," Nowacki said. "She's really stepped up."

DeLong led the Redhawks with 10 kills and added 10 digs for a double-double.

Dondlinger had nine kills and nine digs as she and DeLong appear to be getting closer to full strength.

"It was great for us to win in three," DeLong said. "We're getting better, but we still have a lot of room for improvement."

Junior setter Sarah Barth, among the OVC assist leaders, dished out 32 helpers to go along with seven kills.

Barth said it was a good way for the Redhawks to bounce back after being swept at home Saturday by Morehead State.

"It was a really good feel-good win. We needed it," Barth said.

Junior libero Molly Davis, among the OVC leaders in digs, paced Southeast with 12.

Sophomore Emily Hughes added seven kills.

The Redhawks had a season-high .283 attack percentage and limited UTM to a .123 percentage.

"Other than a couple points in the second game, we really did a good job of taking care of our side," Nowacki said.

After playing their first three OVC matches at home, the Redhawks have their next three on the road beginning Friday night at Jacksonville State.

Soccer player honored

Southeast sophomore Jessica Beckham earned OVC goalkeeper of the week honors, the league announced Tuesday.

Beckham made 13 saves and allowed just two goals in Southeast's two most recent games. She recorded a career-high eight stops in Monday's 1-1 tie with Evansville.

The defending OVC champion Redhawks begin conference play Friday night at home against Murray State.