Otahkian netters hand coach first OVC win

Southeast Missouri State University's women's tennis team handed first-year coach Mike Stevens his inaugural Ohio Valley Conference victory as the Otahkians defeated visiting Austin Peay 5-2 Monday.

The Otahkians improved to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in OVC play. The Governors fell to 1-16.

"It was a very good win for us," Stevens said. "We lost to them twice last year, so to beat them and beat them 5-2 was good.

"We've improved tremendously since the fall and each match this spring we've gotten a little better."

Southeast's top two singles players recorded impressive victories as Daniela Garcia and Andrea Aldana both won 6-1, 6-4.

"Daniela played probably her best match of the season," Stevens said.

Other Otahkian singles winners were Kay Ehlke (6-3, 7-6) and Cristina Garcia (6-0, 6-3) while the doubles teams of D. Garcia-Aldana (8-2) and C. Garcia-Amanda Walker (9-8) also prevailed.

The Otahkians play at St. Louis University today and return home to face Tennessee State Friday.

Golf tournament begins

Southeast's second annual Morton B. Harris Four-Ball Tournament got under way Monday at Kimbeland Country Club in Jackson.

No team medal scores are being kept, but Missouri-Kansas City's Tony Olson had rounds of 73 and 66 to take the individual medalist lead with a 3-under 139. Western Illinois' Ben Hunter is second at 140.

Southeast's Matt Hillis is fifth (69-76-145) and Woody Hill is tied for ninth (71-77-148).

Four other Southeast players did not finish their second round because of darkness. Justin Setser had a 1-over 72 for his opening round, Kent Phillips had a 74 and Jim Blose and Brian Sheehan both shot 77.

In the four-ball team competition, Southeast won its opening match and was playing Eastern Illinois in the semifinals when darkness halted play. The match will be resumed today, prior to the final round.

The other semifinal match saw Western Illinois beat Missouri-Kansas City to advance to today's final.

Women's assistant hired

Southeast head women's basketball coach B.J. Smith has announced the hiring of a third assistant coach for his staff.

Hired Monday was Franqua Bedell, who had been an assistant girls' coach at Northside High School in Fort Smith, Ark. Northside went 27-4 this year and was ranked among the nation's top teams.

Previously, Bedell was an assistant men's coach at the College of the Ozarks and Hardin-Simmons.

"I am very happy to add him to our coaching staff," Smith said. "He has great experience in working with students and he has worked with some highly successful programs. He will be involved with our camps and recruiting as well as on the court coaching."

Bedell joins Lisa Pace and Rick Karr as Otahkian assistants.

Alvarez wins OVC honor

Senior left-hander Tim Alvarez is the OVC co-pitcher of the week for baseball, the league announced Monday.

Alvarez notched two wins last week as he worked nine shutout innings. He is 7-0 with a 1.47 earned-run average on the season to lead the OVC in wins and ERA.

The Indians (10-8) return to action Wednesday, visiting Southern Illinois (15-10) at 3 p.m.--From staff reports