Power outage fails to derail senior day

The Southeast Missouri State volleyball team appears to have gotten healthy just in time.

Southeast seniors who played their final home match Sunday are especially pleased about it.

The Redhawks posted their season-high fourth straight win, 25-16, 19-25, 25-14, 25-22 over Eastern Kentucky, as they solidified their hold on sixth place among 10 Ohio Valley Conference squads.

With two road matches left this week, the Redhawks are in good shape to qualify for the six-team OVC tournament.

"We've had our ups and downs, but I think we're finally becoming the team we thought we would be," senior setter Sarah Barth said.

Southeast, hampered by injuries much of the year, improved to 13-15 overall and 8-8 in OVC play by winning a senior day match that wasn't played on its home court.

The contest, originally scheduled for Saturday night at Houck Field House, was postponed because of a campus-wide power outage.

Power had still not been restored early Sunday, so the noon match was played at Notre Dame Regional High School.

"It was strange not playing at Houck, but it was great," senior libero Molly Davis said. "It was everything we wanted for senior day."

Southeast's four seniors, who were recognized before the match, have only one more chance to gain an NCAA tournament berth that goes to the OVC tournament champion. They want to make the most of it.

"I feel really good about our team. We're hitting our peak at the right time," senior outside hitter Karleigh DeLong said. "We've got a lot of confidence."

Three of Southeast's four seniors have been major parts of the program the past four years as Davis, Barth and DeLong joined the Redhawks out of high school.

Outside hitter Amanda Rickhoff came to Southeast last year from junior college.

"It's an awesome senior class, one of the best we've had," Southeast coach Renata Heard said.

Davis has distinguished herself as the program's career digs leader as well as an Academic All-American. She leads the OVC and ranks sixth nationally in digs.

DeLong, all-OVC as a sophomore, has been hampered by injuries the past two years but appears to be in strong form now.

The same goes for Barth, who is running the offense well after missing much of the OVC schedule with a broken wrist.

"We're healthy now, and we're doing some good things," Heard said. "It's a good way to send them out on senior day."

The seniors all played prominent roles Sunday.

Rickhoff led Southeast in kills with 15 and had 11 digs as she was among three Redhawks to record a double-double.

DeLong had 14 kills and 16 digs, along with four service aces.

Barth dished out 39 assists and came up with 22 digs. She also contributed seven kills and had an ace on match point.

Davis didn't have as many digs as usual but finished with eight.

"I wish it would have been at Houck, but it feels so good to win on senior day," Barth said.

Two juniors also played key roles. Claire Keaton had 15 digs and seven kills, while Kelly Benacka added 12 digs.

Southeast visits Murray State on Tuesday before finishing the regular season Friday at Eastern Illinois.