OTAHKIANS PREP FOR BIG MATCH WITH SWEEP

Southeast Missouri State University volleyball coach Cindy Gannon was afraid her team might be looking ahead to Thursday's big showdown at Eastern Illinois.

But if the Otahkians were, you sure couldn't tell it by the way they rolled past visiting Austin Peay Tuesday night.

The Otahkians won their 11th consecutive match, blistering the Lady Governors 15-4, 15-8, 15-11 in front of about 350 fans at Houck Field House.

Southeast improved to 17-7 overall and 9-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference while Austin Peay fell to 12-9 overall, 6-4 in league play.

The Otahkians, who have won the past five OVC regular-season titles, are in second place in the league, behind 11-0 Eastern Illinois. The Lady Panthers beat Southeast earlier this season in Cape Girardeau and the Otahkians will try to gain revenge Thursday in Charleston, Ill.

"We're really keyed up for Eastern Illinois and I thought we might overlook Austin Peay," said Gannon. "But we didn't. We didn't play great, but any time you can win and it gets this late in the season, you're pretty pleased."

Angie Aschoff had 14 kills to pace the Otahkians. Earlier in the day, she was named the OVC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time. She had 79 kills last week in helping lead the Otahkians to four wins.

Krista Haukap and Lea Beckemeyer both had nine kills while Jackie Derwort added eight. Haukap led the way in digs with 18, followed by Derwort with 15 and Amy Henken and freshman Lori Lange with 10 each.

Henken, who dished out 38 assists, was named the Southwestern Bell Wireless Player of the Game.

Becky Sowinski paced Austin Peay with 11 kills.

The Otahkians were rarely threatened the entire night as they tuned up for Thursday's date with Eastern Illinois.

"Emotions will be riding high because we haven't forgotten what they did to us here earlier in the season," Gannon said. "But we don't want to put too much pressure on ourselves."

Even if Southeast wins Thursday, another OVC team will still have to beat Eastern Illinois in order for the Otahkians to have a shot at a sixth straight league title.

But if the Otahkians don't beat the Lady Panthers, then Southeast will have all but been eliminated from title contention.

"It's a big match, no question," said Gannon. "We have to win just to have a shot (at another OVC title)."