OTAHK SPIKERS NOTCH 7TH CONSECUTIVE SWEEP

To simply say that Southeast Missouri State University's volleyball team has been on a roll would not even begin to do the Otahkians justice.

Southeast has been one of the nation's hottest squads. The Otahkians won their 15th straight match Tuesday night, rolling past Ohio Valley Conference foe Murray State 15-9, 15-7, 15-7 in front of a season-high 568 fans at Houck Field House.

The Otahkians own the third-longest current winning streak in the country, which really doesn't surprise coach Cindy Gannon."We're real focused and committed right now," said Gannon. "The thing this team has is focus and dedication. That may be what sets them apart."Not only have the Otahkians been winning, they've been winning big. Tuesday's victory was their seventh straight sweep."We're playing good volleyball," Gannon said. "I think the win over (nationally ranked) Arkansas (last week) has maybe put some thoughts in people's minds that we can't be beat."Southeast improved its overall record to 22-5 and raised its OVC mark to 13-1 as the Otahkians remained in first place in the league. Southeast has won 13 consecutive conference matches.

Murray State, coached by former Gannon assistant Dave Schwepker, fell to 15-9 overall and 9-6 in the OVC."Dave and I go way back," said Gannon of Schwepker, who was a Southeast assistant in 1993 and 1994. "He's a great coach. We do a lot of things alike and he'll beat me one day."But not on this night as the Otahkians, despite being challenged by the Racers, were never seriously threatened.

The Racers did lead 8-7 in the first game before the Otahkians took control to win 15-9.

In game two, Southeast led just 6-5 before reeling off four straight points and cruising 15-7.

Then in game three, the Otahkians broke away from a tenuous 6-5 lead by scoring five straight points and breezing 15-7.

Krista Haukap led the way offensively with 15 kills. Lea Beckemeyer had 12, Angie Aschoff and Rachelle Knapp added 10 apiece, and Amy Henken and Emily Johnson both contributed nine.

Beckemeyer had 13 digs, Knapp came up with six blocks and Henken dished out 48 assists.

For Murray State, Jessica Wood had 14 kills while Audrey Nelson added 11."Murray challenged us tonight, and we expected that," said Gannon. "We cannot take anyone lightly and we can't let anyone sneak up on us."